Table 3.

Thick trust inside support groups.

3.1 Opportunity for free expression, including gender and sexual expression
3.2 A sense of intima among group members and facilitators
3.3 Privacy
3.4 A space for sharing experiences
3.5 A sense of unity among group members
3.6 An opportunity to engage with a diversity of viewpoints
3.7 A space for group members to embrace and establish their own specific and individual identities
3.8 Cross-generational support networks
3.9 Support from group members to come out or transition publicly
3.10 Support for group participants’ plans for their futures
3.11 A sense of engagement with the transgender community
3.12 The development of informal community networks/kinship structures within the support group
3.13 Spiritual support