Trans SHG Linz
We are a self-help group by and for trans people and those who may be questioning. The term trans explicitly includes genderfluid and non-binary identities!
This group is fundamentally open to all people, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation (see our Group Rules) — we are an inclusive self-help group!
Our meetings take place
every 2nd Thursday of the month (except August),
from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM,
at the ÖGK Gesundheitszentrum, Garnisonstraße 1a, 4020 Linz, 2nd floor, Gruppenraum 3*
Just drop by!
* Trans SHG Linz does not have an office at the ÖGK Gesundheitszentrum. In-person contact is only possible during meeting times.
August is our summer break — there are no SHG meetings that month. If the second Thursday of a month falls on a public holiday, the meeting must be rescheduled because the ÖGK cannot provide its premises on public holidays. In that case, the alternative date will be announced ahead of time on our Instagram channel and Discord server.
After each meeting we go for a relaxed dinner and get-together at a nearby restaurant. We don't have a regular spot at the moment and are currently trying out different pubs in the area. The restaurant where we've reserved is always announced on Instagram before each meeting.
Who is this self-help group for?
We are a self-help group by trans people, for trans people. The purpose of this group is to share experiences and make new connections. It's also about creating a safe space where you can speak freely about what you've been through and reflect on it.
We use the term trans to mean all people who are not cisgender — that is, people who do not, or at least not exclusively, identify with the gender they were assigned at birth (AGAB = assigned gender at birth). Unfortunately, transphobia — particularly discrimination against non-binary people — is a serious problem even within the trans community. As a result, a considerable number of those who do not see themselves as binary trans (=either a man or a woman) cannot or do not want to identify with the term trans or transgender.
We nonetheless believe the trans umbrella model (a play on the term umbrella term) is the most suitable way to represent the full spectrum beyond cisgender identity.
Regardless of how someone identifies exactly, we believe the most important thing is simply to live your own gender identity as authentically and self-determinedly as possible. No one has the right to dictate to another person how they should express their gender identity.
This group is fundamentally open to all people, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation (see our Group Rules) — we are an inclusive self-help group! This also means we are open to anyone questioning whether they are trans and are happy to offer support in self-discovery. At the same time, it's important to emphasize that participants who clearly identify as cisgender should give others in the group the floor first, so that the essential topics can actually be discussed. The group is also not intended for cis people who simply want to learn about trans topics — for that, separate meetings should be arranged or questions sent to our email address.
Who is this group not suitable for?
Unfortunately, there is a disproportionately high number of trans people with (sometimes severe) mental health conditions compared to the general population. Naturally, all trans people are warmly invited to attend our group. However, Trans SHG is a volunteer-run service organized by laypeople who do not have psychological or psychotherapeutic training. For this reason, we are unfortunately only able to a limited extent to adequately address the needs of people with mental health conditions or offer support in crisis situations.
In such cases, the psychotherapeutic group run by COURAGE Linz is probably the better option: TRANS* IDENTITIES LINZ — Psychotherapeutic group for adults with transgender topics.
For acute mental health crises, the crisis hotline is available by phone 24/7: Krisenhilfe OÖ and Kriseninterventionszentrum Linz.
Furthermore, this group is explicitly not for people who are only looking for a relationship and hope to find someone here. Any sexual or romantic advances are to be refrained from!
Social Media
We have an Instagram channel (@transinlinz) where we announce all meetings at least one week in advance.
We also have our own private Discord server, though this is intended only for communication among active SHG participants. If you're interested, simply ask the group leader for the invite link at your first visit to the self-help group, the Queerer Nerd Treff Linz (Queer Nerd Meetup Linz), or the Queer Games Night.
Since there seems to be a myth circulating that we hold group meetings online, let it be stated here: this was never the case, not even during the lockdowns, and will likely remain the case in the future.
We do not send Discord invite links to people who have not attended at least one Trans SHG meeting, the Queerer Nerd Treff Linz (Queer Nerd Meetup Linz), or the Queer Games Night!
Please read our Group Rules!
To ensure that the SHG runs as smoothly as possible and to provide a safe and comfortable atmosphere for everyone, it is essential that all attendees follow our Group Rules. Please read our rules before coming to your first meeting!
Any questions?
If you have further questions about the group or the transition process, please send a short email to # to get in touch with the group leader. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.* We cannot offer one-on-one consultations due to limited resources. We'd also like to point you to the counseling services offered by Bily and Courage Linz.
* Please keep in mind that this is an entirely volunteer-run service and replies may take some time due to work or personal commitments.