Can anyone recommend support groups online to ask questions and discuss?

Question

Specifically even for the partners of FTM transgenders?

Answer 1

I don't have a good knowledge of what is out there, but we do have an email based support list for partners (not specifically FTM). You can sign up online via our website at www.genderrights.org.au (click on support groups on RHS of home page). If you have any trouble, you can email me directly at peter@genderrights.org.au and I can sign you up manually.

I assume that you are Melbourne based? If you are interested in a weekend away in Canberra, we are running an all day session for partners on Saturday 29th October. There is at least one person from Victoria registered already.

Here is some info about the event:

 

Workshop for the Partners and Families of Trans and Intersex People

On Saturday 29 October, AGA is holding an event specifically for the partners, parents, children and siblings of trans and intersex people.

If you have a family member or loved one who is considering or who has already transitioned, who cross dresses, or who is intersex, then this session is for you!

The session is being facilitated by a registered psychologist, with Tammy Clinch as a special Guest.

Some of you may know of Tammy - her partner Bridget recently transitioned from male to female, and their story was widely shown in media (including Today Tonight). Tammy will share her experiences (both positive and negative) of being the partner of a person who is transitioning. For more background on Tammy and Bridget, see www.justlikeyou.com.au

The session will run from 10:00am - 4:00pm on Saturday 29th October, with lunch provided.

The morning session will be a chance for people to share their stories in a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment.

The afternoon session will give participants a chance to determine what ongoing support and resources could be offered to help support partners and families in the future.

In order to create a safe place where participants can speak freely about issues, we ask that trans and intersex people do not register for this event.

To register, or if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please emailRegister@GenderRights.org.au

Answer 2

One of the most useful FTM-related online communities I've used is the ftm community at LiveJournal:

http://ftm.livejournal.com/profile

To sign up, you need a LiveJournal account, which is free. This particular community helped me many times during my transition. Most of the people on it are in the US but there are people from Australia there too. The great thing is that there are over 3000 members in that community - and although definitely not everyone is an active member, it results in a breadth of opinions and experiences that I've never seen in any Australian trans online community. This community is not exclusively for FTM people and I know that there are definitely partners of FTM folks there too. 

There are two other LiveJournal communities that are specifically for partners of transpeople. One is for partners of FTMs - it's not as active these days but still might be worth checking out:

http://partners-of-ftm.livejournal.com/profile

There's also a community for partners of transgender people (not exclusively for partners of FTM folks, but I've heard that it's a bit more active than the LiveJournal community for partners of FTMs):

http://partners-of-tg.livejournal.com/profile

Finally, you might find these other links useful:

http://t-vox.org/index.php?title=Online_Support#Partners (a list of online groups for partners of transfolk - it seems to have more of a partners of FTM focus)

http://t-vox.org/index.php?title=Forum (T-Vox forums for trans, genderqueer and intersex people, and their partners, family and friends - I haven't tried them before but they could be good).

Good luck!

Answer 3

Melbourne Genderqueer runs bi-monthly "supporting the lovers" events at drummond street services, 195 drummond street, Carlton.

The next event is held on the 17th October at 6pm.

More information is available at:

http://www.melbournegenderqueer.org/supporting-the-lovers-2

If you're on Facebook, you can also join in any pre-event discussion:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=166883430056935