The Impact of Anti-Trans Legislation on Trans Youth
There are 440 active bills attacking trans people, and the majority of of this legislation targets young people. You may have seen people referring to the current anti-trans legislation as a genocidal attack and it meets legal criteria as such “by subjecting transgender children to ‘conditions of life that are intended to cause the physical destruction of the group in whole or in part’” (LFGG Trans Health Report). As of this week, seven states have banned gender affirming care for youth - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah.
Map of anti-trans legislation and healthcare bans affecting transgender youth
Anti-trans legislation can have significant implications for trans youth, including:
Increased discrimination: Anti-trans legislation can reinforce negative stereotypes about trans people, leading to increased discrimination against trans youth. This discrimination can occur in schools, healthcare settings, faith communities, and all areas of life.
Limited access to healthcare: Anti-trans legislation can limit trans youth's access to healthcare services, including evidence-based life-saving gender-affirming medical treatments and surgeries. This can have negative effects on trans youth's mental and physical health. These bills, while “purporting to ‘‘protect’’ trans youth, are really an assault on their ability, along with their parents’ and physicians’, to make healthcare choices and to receive medically necessary care.” (Kraschel et al, 2022)
Mental health impacts: Trans youth already face increased rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Anti-trans legislation can exacerbate these issues by increasing stigma and limiting access to support. Multiple studies have demonstrated that trans and non-binary youth who received gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones, had a significant reduction in mental health symptoms, better adult outcomes (Turban et al, 2022), and a dramatic reduction in suicidality (Tordoff et al, 2022,).
Educational challenges: Imagine trying to concentrate in school when your identity is under attack?! Anti-trans legislation makes it difficult for trans youth to feel safe and supported in school. This can lead to decreased attendance, lower academic performance, and increased dropout rates. A report by GLSEN found that trans students were more likely than their cisgender peers to miss school due to safety concerns, with 35% of trans students reporting missing at least one day of school in the past month due to feeling unsafe. Trans students also reported lower GPAs and lower levels of school belonging than their cisgender peers.
Increased risk of houselessness: Trans youth already face higher rates of houselessness than their cisgender peers. Homelessness and housing instability were reported at higher rates among transgender and nonbinary youth, including 38% of transgender girls/women, 39% of transgender boys/men, and 35% of nonbinary youth, compared to 23% of cisgender LGBQ youth (Trevor Project, 2022)Anti-trans legislation can make it more difficult for trans youth to access housing and support services.
Higher rates of self-harm and suicide: To put it bluntly, trans youth have and will die because of this wave of legislation. They are already at increased risk of self-harm and suicide and anti-trans legislation increases this risk by increasing stigma and limiting access to medically necessary support services. The Trevor Project's National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2022 found that 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, and nearly 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide.
Increased family conflict: Anti-trans legislation leads to increased family conflict for trans youth, particularly if their families are unsupportive or hostile to their gender identity. Research has shown that trans youth whose families are unsupportive of their gender identity are at higher risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. A study by the Family Acceptance Project found that parental rejection and conflict were associated with an increased risk of suicide attempts among trans youth.
While this type of legislation isn’t new, It is at an all-time high. I am personally comforted knowing that I live and practice in a state that protects my clients and supports my work but am painfully aware that most do not have that privilege. If I lived in many other states right now even writing this blog could get me a $100,000 fine and 10 years in prison.
Let that sink in.
It has never been more essential to advocate for the rights and dignity of trans youth and their families.
Want to do something about it?
Go to Protect Trans Youth page for ways to take action, resources, and suggestions for where to donate your time and money.
Sign up to Speak Up For TDOV: Talking Points for Active Trans Allyship
Join this FREE webinar to explore the impact of anti-trans laws. Learn how to counter opposition arguments, handle misinformation, and support trans folks!
We will cover:
Real-world implications of anti-trans legislation
Responses to arguments the opposition makes
Talking points for personal and professional life
Taking on emotional labor for trans folks
