Just like birth doulas, gender doulas support people at all stages of their gender journey. Similar to birth doulas, gender doulas are non-clinical companions who provide advocacy, knowledge, and support. With exploration of gender-nonconforming identities becoming more common and gender-affirming surgeries on the rise, people are turning to gender doulas to navigate an often unwelcoming environment. Photo by Danielle BarnumWoods wanted a gender doula who could navigate the system, so they chose Ken McGee, a fellow birth doula who’d recently transitioned. Given the lack of official training, Lawliet strongly believes a deep interrogation of self needs to happen before someone assumes the title of gender doula.