TransFam Support Group of Savannah is a dedicated network of people holding multiple meetings weekly to meet the wellness needs of Savannah's transgender community. 

TransFam Support Group of Savannah was established in 2020 by Dr. David Lee, LMFT.  James T. Dowling, LPC, began co-leading the group before Dr. Lee's departure in 2021. Over time a team of volunteer facilitators was established from the group members themselves to keep the meetings running and to expand and build the TransFam community. The team continues to grow to maintain a high level of availability for attendees.

The meetings went virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep the community connected and break the isolation during times of quarantine. Even after returning to in-person meetings, the group maintained an  online presence, first by using hybrid meetings and later by holding dedicated virtual meetings as a means to keep connections beyond the immediate Savannah area alive. Post-pandemic, the group also now hosts in-person community social events and mutual aid programming.

A Statement from James Dowling, LPC:

Transfam is all about helping transgender people make connections. I've discovered that there is healing and hope for many in connecting and building community together for transgender people. 

It's about finding out that you are not alone when you are going through difficult times. Many people have lost their family and been shut out because they felt different. That is very painful. Here in this group, we are all different and rediscovering connection and some sense of family together. Together we are trying to heal and help each other. 

The statistics for a transgender person committing suicide are incredibly high. If we can help one more person not kill themselves because they feel different, hurt and alone, then that is what we are going to do here. I hope to continue our community and keep it going for many more years to come before we pass the baton on to the next generation to keep the connections we have made in the Transfam community alive and well.