Over 58,000 transgender youth could lose access to gender-affirming care

• Recent legislation could block access to gender-affirming care for over 58,000 transgender youth.
• Under most bills, health care providers and family members could face severe penalties for providing such care.
• Such restrictive legislation has already impacted the mental health of two-thirds of LGBTQ+ youth aged 13 to 24.

With more states across the country passing legislation that blocks access to gender-affirming care, a study has revealed that over 58,000 transgender youth could lose access to treatments such as hormone therapies, puberty blockers, and gender-affirming surgeries.

Research from the Williams Institute revealed that existing or proposed legislation in 15 states could block access to gender-affirming care for over a third of the nation’s 150,000 transgender youth aged 13 to 17.

Around 4,000 transgender youth aged 18 to 20 could also lose access to gender-affirming care due to three proposed bills.

In about half of the recently introduced bills, insurance providers would be prevented from offering coverage for gender-affirming care. Some bills also restrict the use of state funds or state facilities to provide such care, while other bills exclude gender-affirming care from tax-deductible expenses.

Health care providers, as well as family members in some cases, could face severe penalties for providing gender-affirming care to transgender and nonbinary minors.

Several studies have shown that trans and nonbinary youth already face a greater risk of depression, self-harm, and suicide, which can be improved through gender-affirming care.

Medical groups, such as the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association, have backed gender-affirming care as the best practice for transgender and nonbinary individuals.

“A growing body of research shows that gender-affirming care improves mental health and overall well-being of transgender people, including youth. Efforts that support transgender youth in living according to their gender identity are associated with better mental health,” explained lead study author Kerith J. Conron.

According to a January report by The Trevor Project, the introduction of legislation that restricts the rights of transgender and nonbinary people has already impacted the mental health of two-thirds of LGBTQ+ youth aged 13 to 24.

Source: The Hill