Brotherly Allyship Fuels Confidence and Health for a Trans Teen

Chazzie Grosshandler, who came out as transgender at age 9, credits her brother Lev with providing unwavering allyship that helped her feel seen; research shows family acceptance boosts self-esteem, social support, and health for LGBTQ+ youth, and siblings can be a crucial support source. Lev’s advocacy, curiosity, and shared experiences have strengthened their bond as they’ve grown older, and their family started The GenderCool project to uplift trans and nonbinary youth. The piece notes rising LGBTQ identification among young people and emphasizes ongoing allyship, while pointing to mental health resources like the 988 Lifeline.