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Namesake

Getting Started

Hello! This guide is for people who are interested in contributing to Namesake. We’re glad you are here.

Background

Section titled “Background”

Legally changing names can be time-consuming and expensive. It intersects dozens of different institutions, from state and local courts to federal agencies. Documentation is scattered, full of legalese, and rarely speaks directly to trans experiences.

Namesake exists to fill the gaps.

  1. We write step-by-step name change guides using plain language, surfacing communal insights, and answering frequently asked questions.
  2. We create interactive, accessible web forms to help fill out legal documents.
  3. We publish writing and other media.
  4. We provide community support and encouragement.

All of our tooling is free and open source, and always will be.

We are volunteer-driven, and we welcome contributions from a wide range of people—trans and cis, technical and non-technical.

How to contribute

Section titled “How to contribute”

To help contribute, first join the Namesake Discord server. This is where chat and coordination takes place. Say hello in #introductions!

Answer name change questions

Section titled “Answer name change questions”

Do you have experience with the name change process in your state? Check the #help channel on Discord for threads where you can share your knowledge.

Contribute writing

Section titled “Contribute writing”

We welcome writing contributions in the form of name change guides, blog posts, or any other writing you’d like Namesake to publish. Reach out on Discord or email hey@namesake.fyi.

Write code

Section titled “Write code”

If you know some HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and want to help fix bugs or build new features for Namesake, start by getting your development environment set up.

Setting Up Your Dev EnvironmentGet started running Namesake on your local machine.

You can also share your feedback and ideas in the #feedback-ideas channel on Discord.

Section titled “Donate money to support us”

Namesake is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit with fiscal sponsorship from Superbloom. Donations help us fund continued development, maintenance, outreach, and hosting.

We don’t pay for any ads or marketing: all of our funds go directly toward the development of Namesake. As a volunteer-led team with a small budget, any donation is greatly appreciated and really goes a long way toward making this work possible.

Donate to Namesake