The Woodlands A Monthly Trans/Nonbinary Monthly Pastoral Care Space

Silhouette of pine trees under pink and blue light trails in the sky. White text reads “The Woodlands.” A small chalice in transgender pride colors appears in the lower right.

The Woodlands

The logo for a trans* spiritual care program, featuring pine tree silhouettes, pink and blue sky trails, and a chalice in transgender pride colors.

By Jami Yandle

Welcome to The Woodlands

A Sacred Space for Trans Belonging & Collective Liberation

The Woodlands is a monthly, online spiritual community gathering for trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender expansive, and intersex people—and for the parents and caregivers who love and support them.

Rooted in Unitarian Universalist values, The Woodlands exists to offer belonging, spiritual care, and healing-centered community in a world that too often denies trans people safety, dignity, and rest. This is not a discussion group or advocacy forum—it is a place to be held, celebrated, and nourished.

Launched in September 2025, The Woodlands has become a consistent home for people seeking connection with others who understand their lives firsthand. Here, trans lives are not debated or explained. They are honored as sacred, whole, and worthy of care.
What Happens at a Woodlands Gathering?
Each monthly gathering is gently structured and chaplain-led, offering both grounding and flexibility. 
Gatherings include:

  • A shared opening ritual and spiritual grounding
  • A monthly theme centered on resilience, healing, identity, or joy
  • Story-sharing and reflection
  • Breakout groups designed for different ages and roles
  • A closing blessing shared together as one community

Participants are never required to speak. Listening, resting, or simply being present is always enough.
Community Groups
To ensure safety, relevance, and care, participants gather in small groups based on age and role:

  • Saplings: trans youth (13–high school)
  • Sycamores: trans adults (18+)
  • Sequoias: parents & caregivers of trans and non-binary people
  • Sequoias Jr.: parents & caregivers accompanying children 12 and under

Every group is nurtured by trained chaplains who hold space for stories, tears, delight, and healing. We close each gathering as one community—with blessings to carry into the wider world.

The Woodlands Gatherings 2026

All gatherings are held Sundays at 3:00 PM Central Time

Dates

  • January 11th
  • February 1st
  • March 1st
  • April 12th
  • May 3rd

Time Zones

  • Eastern: 4:00 PM
  • Mountain: 2:00 PM
  • Pacific: 1:00 PM
  • Alaska: 12:00 PM
  • Hawaii: 11:00 AM

The Woodlands was created because trans people and their families deserve more than survival. They deserve spiritual grounding, community support, and places where joy and grief can coexist. Community care is resistance! 

Register to Join Us!