Uphold is a private peer support network for parents and caregivers of transgender, non-binary, gender-fluid, gender-diverse, and gender-questioning children and young people. We connect caregivers one-to-one with other parents whose values, background, and lived experience align with theirs, for private, unscripted conversations 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 with the right person changes everything.

Uphold is for parents, caregivers, and loved ones supporting children and young people across a wide range of gender experiences, including gender questioning, being transgender or gender-diverse, and experiences of gender dysphoria. Whether you are just beginning to seek support or have been advocating for years, Uphold meets caregivers where they are.

Conversations are shaped entirely by what you and your match bring to them. Caregivers connect around real, day-to-day questions, including supporting a child who is questioning their gender, understanding gender dysphoria, gaining family and community, advocating for their child, and building confidence as a parent. Conversations are shaped by what families need, not a prescribed curriculum.

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

What they are is rarer: Private conversations with another person who was matched because of who you both are, 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 caregivers through private, one-to-one conversations with other parents who have walked similar paths. This allows for more relevant, private, and meaningful support.

One-to-one parent support allows caregivers to share resources, ask specific questions, and learn from real-life experience. These conversations help parents gain clarity, confidence, and practical understanding so they are better equipped to support transgender and gender-diverse children at home, at school, and in daily life.

You are 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. It is one of the most common experiences our community navigates, and one of the things our matching is specifically designed to support. You do not need answers to start the conversation.

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 is 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 which contributes a % of proceeds to various LGBTQ+ nonprofits. We also subsitize up to 20% of our members based on need.

Start by mapping your journey. When you are ready, submit your application through our website. Once accepted, you will be matched for your first conversation within the next match round.

Yes. We believe 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. Please contact us directly and we will work with you to find a solution.

Yes. Uphold is a $20 per month membership. 20% of memberships are reserved for need-based, no-cost access. If cost is a barrier, please reach out and we will do everything we can to make sure it is not.

The moment you navigated last month, the decision you wrestled with, the instinct that turned out to be right, all of it matters to another parent who is navigating something similar. You do not need to arrive with answers. You need to arrive as yourself. That is enough.

Before you are matched with anyone, you complete a Journey Map, a guided reflection on where you came from, where you are now, and where you are headed. It covers your values, your background, your parenting approach, your current circumstances and what kind of support you are looking for. Every match is built around what you have shared with us so that we are matching you with parents who understand you, not just your circumstances.

No problem at all.

Every other week you will receive several time slots to choose from for the next match round. When you don’t have time you can simply opt-out for that week. Skipping a round does not affect your membership, your matching profile, or your place in the community. We are here to work around your schedule.

Every applicant goes through a personal review process before being accepted into the community. We review your profile and have a conversation to confirm that you are genuinely a caregiver of a gender-diverse child and that Uphold is the right fit for you. This is not a bureaucratic hurdle. It is how we protect the integrity and safety of the community for everyone in it.

We will do our best to match you with a great fit every time, but sometimes you just don’t click. That it ok! You will receive a survey after your call. Just let us know so that we can refine your matching for future rounds. Every match is an opportunity to learn what you do and do not want in support.

Yes. Your profile, your Journey Map, and your conversations are private. Uphold does not share your personal information with other members beyond what you have approved for your public profile. Your matched conversations are between you and one other parent.