How to Find Transgender Chat Rooms

Because society often forces the transgender community to be closeted, meeting people with whom you can discuss your true self can be difficult. Here's how to find some chat rooms where you can be with others like you.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet Access
• Computers

1. Decide why you want to visit a chat room, and choose ones geared to your needs. You may want some conversation, to make friends or to find a long-term relationship.

2. Remember that "transgender" is a big word that people use in different ways. Some transgender people feel they were born in a body of the wrong gender, some dress up for sexual pleasure and some are simply performers. Focus on the chat rooms that are most closely aligned with your situation.

3. Try out several different chat rooms run by different organizations to find ones that share your values.

4. Look around at gay sites, even if you don't consider yourself gay. Many transgender resources are on gay sites.

5. Take a look at the transgender community on PlanetOut.com. Click on the People tab, then select Transland.

6. Consider subscribing to America Online if you're serious about meeting people. It has a lot of built-in features that make communicating with others easy.

7. Get some of America Online's interactive features without subscribing by downloading AOL Instant Messenger from the America Online Web site (aim.com). Then, go back to the site and follow the chat links.

8. Ask people in the chat rooms, once you're there, to suggest more obscure chat rooms that are tailored to your specific reasons for wanting to chat.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't give out personal information to anyone until you're sure it is safe. Some con artists can be very convincing.