In the Czech Republic, Trans*parent has created a support group series for transgender and non-binary young adults, aiming to support those experiencing anxiety and depression. This is particularly important at a time when the political landscape for trans people feels uncertain.
Following the October 2025 elections, the new administration has publicly targeted civil society organisations, which it calls ‘political NGOs’, alongside a broader rollback of LGBTQI rights. Meanwhile, questions remain over gender recognition after the Constitutional Court struck down the sterilisation requirement, but no new legislation was introduced. For young trans and non-binary people navigating early adulthood, this uncertainty compounds existing struggles such as isolation, anxiety, and a lack of safe spaces.
Trans*parent set out to meet that need directly. With support from GiveOut, the organisation ran a support group series for trans and non-binary adults aged 18 to 26. Many participants had experienced isolation and struggled to form friendships or find community, and some were unable to work due to anxiety and depression.
Titled ‘Our strength, my strength: Resilience skills for life’, the series created a space where participants could connect with their community, manage anxiety and depression, and build confidence in social situations.
Facilitators drew on a wide range of approaches, including drama therapy, somatics, art therapy, and circus therapy, combined with community building and allyship practices.
Talking about the sessions, one participant shared: ‘I don’t think any practice we did was for nothing. Each one was focused on topics like grounding, building a stress-free environment, affirmation, and validation.’
Originally planned as six sessions, the series was extended to nine to meet demand, giving participants more time together.
For many participants, the series was transformational.
One shared that ‘the group helped me build myself up instead of tearing myself down. I found unexpected understanding, curiosity, and respect for myself and others.’
Others found value simply in being heard by people who understood their experience. ‘Conversing with other people about given topics was very refreshing to me,’ one participant explained, ‘seeing with their eyes and hearing their thoughts and comparing our ideas was so bonding and stimulating.’
What began as a short series has left a lasting mark. The group’s impact has continued well beyond its final session, with participants still connected months later through the WhatsApp chat they started themselves. For young trans and non-binary people who arrived feeling isolated, the series offered more than a set of coping strategies. It gave them a community they built together, and one that continues to support them.