To anyone reading this who is trans or nonbinary: Your identity is valid, no matter where you are in the coming out process. You have the right to be seen and loved for who you are.
But conservative state legislatures are trying to take away that right.
Hundreds of discriminatory anti-LGBTQ+ bills are under consideration in states across the country, many targeting transgender and nonbinary youth. This includes legislation criminalizing gender-affirming healthcare, such as hormone therapy and medication to delay puberty.
This trend is coinciding with rising incidents of fatal violence against transgender and nonbinary people. In spreading cruel misinformation and introducing transphobic legislation, politicians are endangering children, their families, and others who support them.
A new study found that gender-affirming care reduces the risk of moderate or severe depression by 60% and suicidality by 73%. This is essential for an already-marginalized, stigmatized, and bullied group of people—at least a third of whom have attempted suicide in the past year.
As trans advocate Chase Strangio explained: “The data is clear: When young people are affirmed in their identity, they thrive.”
However, Idaho and Alabama are on the brink of passing statewide legislation that would make it a felony to provide gender-affirming healthcare for transgender and nonbinary youth. And in Texas, the governor and Attorney General are urging investigations and criminal punishments for parents, educators, and providers supporting children and adolescents with gender-affirming care.
The bill recently passed in Idaho’s House of Representatives would additionally punish parents or guardians for bringing minors out-of-state for gender-affirming care, potentially up to a life in prison. With a massive Republican majority, Idaho’s Senate is likely to pass the bill, bringing it to the Republican governor’s desk—who could choose to veto the bill, if pushed.
We’ve got to speak up about this crisis and oppose these dangerous anti-trans bills. It is vital to show trans and nonbinary kids that they belong and are welcome, and to pressure the governors of Alabama, Texas, and Idaho to do the right thing and save kids’ lives.
Will you post about your support for trans and nonbinary kids on social media today?
Note: For Twitter, you’ll see pre-populated text. For Facebook, it will auto-populate with a link to more resources, and feel free to copy and paste in this sample text:
I’m calling on governors across the country to #ProtectTransKids and ensure that transgender and nonbinary youth in their states can access gender-affirming, evidence-based, medically necessary, life-saving healthcare. Especially Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Idaho Governor Brad Little & Texas Governor Greg Abbott, whose states are trying to criminalize this healthcare.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott just directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate “any reported instances” of gender-affirming care to children and adolescents—referring to such care as child abuse and deliberately trying to separate supportive families.
This is against the guidance of all major medical associations, which have recognized gender-affirming care as a safe and effective medical necessity, and thus oppose bans on gender-affirming care—including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Instead of limiting care, we’ve got to expand access to it.
Already, families drive hours to see Alabama’s three medical providers who specialize in gender-affirming treatment—some even coming from Mississippi. One of these providers called the state’s latest legislation “catastrophic.”
In Idaho, Human Rights Campaign State Legislative Director and Senior Counsel Cathryn Oakley responded to the recent bill’s passage by saying:
“Every kid in Idaho deserves the chance to grow up feeling safe and respected for who they are. Denying someone medically-necessary health care simply because you don’t approve of who they are is textbook discrimination.”
Whether states pass these dangerous, discriminatory bills or not, their introduction definitely harms trans youth.
In a recent survey by The Trevor Project, 85% of trans and nonbinary youth reported that their mental health has been negatively affected by debates around laws to erode their rights. Unfortunately, this is unsurprising: Already, these young people’s lives are precarious and vulnerable.
Fortunately, groups are challenging the legality of such laws. But this fight will take all of us: We must urgently push back against right-wing legislatures and persuade governors to veto the anti-trans bills that come across their desks.
To trans and nonbinary community members: Thank you for expanding possibilities for all of us to be our full, free selves. And to allies: By speaking up online and offline, you can demonstrate to trans people in your life that you have their backs, which could literally save their lives.
Please post on social media today to show your support for and solidarity with trans and nonbinary youth everywhere. Together, we can push back against anti-trans bills and build safety and liberation for all people.
Since this won’t show up if you click to post on Facebook, here’s a suggested message using a common hashtag and tagging the governors of Alabama, Texas, and Idaho:
I’m calling on governors across the country to #ProtectTransKids and ensure that transgender and nonbinary youth in their states can access gender-affirming, evidence-based, medically necessary, life-saving healthcare. Especially Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Idaho Governor Brad Little & Texas Governor Greg Abbott, whose states are trying to criminalize this healthcare.
Thank you for working toward liberation by centering and honoring the most marginalized among us.
In solidarity,
Rashida
P.S. Here are some resources for allies, for trans youth, and for tracking anti-trans legislation in your state and contacting legislators. And to hear directly from trans youth, check out the three-episode series of Trans Youth Town Hall beginning March 29 on Logo TV’s YouTube and Twitter.