YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

About us

  • Uphold is a peer-to-peer support network for parents and caregivers of transgender, non-binary, gender-fluid, gender-diverse, and gender-questioning children and young people.

    We connect you 1:1 with other caregivers whose values, background, and experience align with yours for unscripted conversations that are grounded in real experience.

    Uphold is not a support group, a forum, or a helpline. It is a community built on the belief that the right conversation at the right time with the right person can change everything.

  • Uphold is for parents, caregivers, and loved ones supporting children and young people across gender experiences—from gender questioning, gender fluid, transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse to those experiencing gender dysphoria.

    Whether you’re just beginning to seek support or have been advocating for years, Uphold meets you where you are.

  • Uphold conversations aren’t therapy sessions or support groups. There's no facilitator, no clinical framework, no audience.

    What they are is rarer than that: Private conversations with another person. You’re matched because of who you both are and the conversation is free go wherever it needs to go. What’s said stays there.

  • Uphold is different from traditional support groups and online forums.

    Instead of large group discussions or public message boards, Uphold connects you for 1:1 conversations with other parents who have walked similar paths. This allows for relevant, timely, and deeply personal support.

  • 1:1 parent support means caregivers can share resources, ask specific questions, and learn from real-life experience.

    These conversations help parents gain clarity, confidence, and practical understanding so they’re better equipped to support transgender and gender-diverse children at home, at school, and in daily life.

  • No. Uphold is not a mentorship program and there is no hierarchy in our matches.

    You will not be paired with an expert or assigned to someone further along who’s there to guide you. Every match is a reciprocal exchange between two peers.

    Both parents bring something. Both parents receive something. The value flows in both directions, always.

  • Uphold is non-profit organization. We subsidize up to 20% of our members based on need.

  • Yes. We believe that no caregiver should be left out of this community because of financial constraints.

    20% of our memberships are reserved for need-based, no-cost access. If finances are a constraint, please contact us directly and we will work with you to find a solution.

  • Yes. Uphold offers a $20 per person monthly membership or a $200 per person annual membership.

How it works

  • Is my information private?

    Yes. Your safety is our top priority.

    Your data is used for one purpose: matching you with the right person. It is not sold, shared, or used for anything else.

    Safety is foundational to how this platform was built. Every member is vetted before joining, so you can trust the person you are meeting with. And if you prefer not to use your real name, you don't have to. You can use an alias throughout the entire experience, in your profile, your emails, your introduction, and with your match.

    You may also notice that even my name does not appear on this website. That is intentional. I hold myself to the same privacy standard I ask of every member.

  • Conversations are shaped entirely by you and your match.

    Caregivers connect around real, day-to-day questions—both big and small. From supporting a child who is questioning their gender, to strengthening family and community, to advocating for your child, to building confidence as a parent.

  • You’re in exactly the right place. Many caregivers come to Uphold while their child is still exploring or questioning. Uncertainty is not a barrier to joining.

    You don’t need answers to start the conversation—your experience and openness is enough.

  • Start by mapping your journey. When you’re ready, submit your application through our website.

    Once accepted, you join the network, fill out your profile, and wait for an invitation to meet your first match.

  • The moment you navigated last month, that tough decision you wrestled with, the instinct that turned out to be right. All of that matters to a parent who’s navigating something similar. You don’t need to arrive with answers; you need to arrive as yourself. That is enough.

  • Before you’re matched with anyone, you complete a Journey Map: A guided reflection on where you came from, where you are now, and where you’re heading.

    The map covers your values, your background, your approach to parenting, your current circumstances, and what kind of support you’re looking for. Every match is built around what you’ve shared with us so we’re matching you with parents who understand you, not just your circumstances.

  • No problem at all. Life happens.

    Every other week, you’ll receive several time slots to choose from for the next match round. When you don’t have time, you can simply opt-out for the week.

    Skipping a round does not affect your membership, your matching profile, or your place in the community. We’re built to work around your schedule.

  • Every applicant goes through a personal review process before being accepted into the community.

    That means we review your journey map and have a conversation to confirm that you’re genuinely a caregiver of a gender-diverse child and that Uphold is the right fit for you.

    It’s how we protect the integrity and safety of the community for everyone in it.

  • We’ll do our best to match you with a great fit every time, but sometimes you just don’t click. That’s ok!

    You’ll receive a short survey after every call (it’s designed to get you thinking). Let us know how the match went and we’ll refine your matching for future rounds. The wonderful thing about Uphold is that there’s a world of people to meet—every match is an opportunity to learn what you want (and what you don’t) in support.