Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place (A Transgender Memoir)

by Jackson Bird

Celebrate with them! While difficult, for many trans people this can also be an exciting time. Sharing in that excitement shows that you support them. Maybe even give them a little gift that affirms their gender—like makeup, a tie, a T-shirt with a gender binary–smashing phrase on it, or one of those miniature license plates featuring their name. When I came out, a friend gave me a set of cuff links with my new initials engraved on them, and I loved it to bits. Depending on your relationship and the person’s sense of humor, you can play into gender stereotypes a little bit. Greeting cards saying “It’s a girl!” or “It’s a boy!” can be funny and supportive. Nowadays greeting card companies are even making cards expressly for the purpose of congratulating people on coming out or starting their transitions. Heck, you could even throw them a gender-reveal party. Those become especially fun if the person is nonbinary. Pop balloons to reveal the gender. Whoops, they’re filled with water. They’re genderfluid! Time for a water balloon fight!