Welcome to WightConnect
the Isle of Wights Gender Support Group


About us:

WightConnect is a Isle of Wight based informal support group for those with a broad range of gender conditions - broadly conditions falling under the heading of Transsexualism, Intersex, Gender Queer or Gender Questioning.

Membership isn't exclusive and is open to anyone whose self identity is at odds with their assigned birth gender/sex, regardless of how far along the route of transition they are, complete or just starting, and how firm or fluid their current identity is.

WightConnect aims to work as a support group by creating an informal network for peer to peer support - partners included - more likely over a pizza and glass of wine in a bar, or a coffee in a cafe, than a structured meeting in a soulless community centre. 

We don't really cater for those identifying as cross dressers/TV/transvestite, but will happily offer informal support where we can recognising the lines can be blurred.

We are an independent member led group, not affiliated to any other.

Confidentiality is of high importance to us - most of our members just want to live ordinary lives without making a song and dance, many in "stealth".

Interested?  Need help? Want to know more? Get in touch - mia@wightconnect.org.uk - 07717 098733 (NB, email best!)


Latest News:


4.12.11 Government Equalities Office - Transgender e-bulletin number 4 December 2011

1.12.11 Government Trasnsgender Action Plan

6.10.11 EHRC - Review of access to NHS Gender Reassignment Services

1.9.11 WPATH - Standards of Care V7 - published September 2011 (NB previous Soc 6, issued 2011, here)

23.8.11 - Government Equalities Office - Transgender e-bulletin no 3 - August/September 2011

26.6.11- ILGA Guide to European Law for Transitioners

26.6.11 - Government Equalities Office - Transgender e-bulletin number 2 June / July 2011

19.4.11 - Government Equalities Office - Transgender e-bulletin number 1 April/May 2011

 


Useful Links:

Press for Change - Campaigning organisation for trans equality

Gender Trust - National support organisation for gender identity

GIRES - Gender Identity Research and Education Society - Information for trans people, their families and the professionals who care for them

Roses - open access support forum

Angels - open access support forum

Transgender zone - open access support forum

Transliving - open access support forum & magazine

NuttycaTS - private support forum focused on transition and post transition - membership by application and approval only

London Gender Clinic - private clinic for gender issues

Gender Care - private clinic for gender issues

Positive Beams - Tina Livingstone, Southampton based counsellor & therapist

Women of the Beaumont Society - partners support group

Broken Rainbow - Support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people experiencing domestic violence

Mermaids - support for children questioning their gender

Tranzwiki - a useful list of support groups, national and local

TransForward - Southampton based service, assisting m2fs with their first steps out the door - web or leaflet

Other regional support groups - if you want a link exchange, just let us know:

- Spectrum London - a peer support forum for all trans people and those questioning their gender
- TransLondon - TransLondon is a discussion/support group for all members of the ‘trans’ community
- FTM London - FTM London started in 1997 as a peer support group for female to male transgender or transsexual people
- Inner Enigma - Manchester's registered charity for Transexual and Intersexed people
- Trans Resource & Empowerment Centre - Based in the North West, TREC provides a wide range of programming and empowerment opportunities for the trans community in a safe and accessible space
- South Warwickshire Transgender Group - We aim to support Families, Children who are trying to cope with gender identity issues
- TransBristol - Bristol based support - "a place for everyone who self-identifies as transgendered, in whatever way"

These links take you to a variety of support and other useful organisations, some more social, some more specifically focused.  Take their content as you find it, there are no rules, no roadmaps, just various paths some lightly trod some more heavily trod.  If what you read on a web site doesn't square with your experience, if the people you meet you don't relate to, that doesn't mean you are wrong, or they are wrong - just different interpretations and approaches to life.

(c) WightConnect 2010, 2011, 2012 - mia@wightconnect.org.uk - 07717 098733
Last updated 20 February 2012