About

Practical advice from someone who’s been there.

Mandy Giles (she/her) is the parent of two nonbinary young adults and is passionate about making safe spaces for transgender youth, both at home and out in the world. Her journey as a parent has included fear, doubt, and grief but also lots of laughter, joy, and celebration. Mandy shares what she has learned not only from her own experience but also from her large network of other parents of trans kids, experts, and transgender adults.

Leveraging more than two decades of serving children through educational nonprofits, Mandy founded Parents of Trans Youth as a social impact business to serve parents who affirm and support their gender-diverse kids and want to learn more.

Parents of trans kids and young adults from all over the country and around the world contact Mandy regularly for support and education. Her engaging, thoughtful, and humorous speaking style makes her a sought-after speaker about her parenting journey, how to support trans kids, turning allyship into action, and the climate in Texas for transgender children and their families.

During the past three Texas legislative sessions, Mandy testified before Texas Senate and House committees against multiple bills targeting transgender youth and has spoken out in support of trans kids in school board meetings, panel discussions, media interviews, and rallies. Mandy is a past president of PFLAG Houston and completed the Equality Texas leadership program.

Mandy is the warm, welcoming, and encouraging presence that parents can turn to for help. She teaches with patience, listens without judgment, and shares generously from her personal experience.

Mandy earned her bachelor's degree from Duke University, majoring in public policy and psychology and minoring in women’s studies; she lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, three kids, and talkative golden retriever.