Relationships With Siblings

Sibling relationships are typically some of humankind’s most enduring relationships, often lasting a lifetime, yet they have received surprisingly little research attention. This is especially true regarding relationships between trans people and their siblings. These relationships can shift not only in response to gender identity disclosure and affirmation but also due to family dynamics, community interactions, and sociocultural forces acting on both the trans person and their sibling. For trans people, siblings can be sources of both support (e.g., as advocates) and stress (e.g., refusing to use a sibling’s pronouns). Having a trans sibling can foster growth and altruism and also involves unique stressors. Professionals and families can nurture positive relationships for trans people and their siblings by encouraging communication, creating space for siblings’ feelings, ...