As of March 21st, 2023, over 430 anti-transgender bills have been introduced in the United States. In North Carolina alone, the ACLU is currently tracking 12 anti-LGBTQ bills in North Carolina, the majority of which are specifically targeting transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals. The continued surge in anti-transgender bills takes a toll on mental health, and leaves many transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse adolescents and adults feeling isolated, scared, hopeless, angry, and unsupported. It is paramount that we support our transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse loved ones, especially during these trying times. Read on to consider a few ways you can show support and engage in active allyship.
What is Anti-Transgender Legislation?
Anti-transgender legislation refers to laws that target transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals and limit their rights. These laws include bills that prohibit transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals from using the public restrooms that match their gender identity, prohibit gender-diverse individuals from participating in sports teams aligned with their gender, and restrict medical care for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals. Some laws also purport to force teachers and school personnel to disclose to parents if a student wishes to utilize a different name or pronouns in school, even when doing so (i.e., “outing” the adolescent) could create an unsafe home environment. Other laws seek to ban curricula about gender identity or sexual orientation. In some states, this is before the fifth grade, while other states are moving to enact such legislation through the 12th grade. Such laws have been introduced in many states across the country, causing significant harm to the transgender community.
Anti-transgender Legislation and the Negative Impact on Mental Health
Anti-transgender legislation is related to negative mental health outcomes among transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse folx. This includes increased levels of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. For transgender individuals, these proposed laws are personal, as they directly affect transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse folx from living authentically, from being able to feel included and represented in school and athletics, and from accessing medically-necessary care. Point blank, the legislation are attacks on the transgender and gender-diver community, and are personal, discriminatory, and oppressive.
A 2022 study by The Trevor Project captured responses from nearly 34,000 LGBTQ youth in the United States, ages 13-24. The study found that 93% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported worry about transgender folx being denied access to gender-affirming medical care. Further, 91% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported worry about transgender folx being denied access to appropriate bathrooms, and 83% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported worry about transgender folx being denied the ability to play sports due to state or local laws.
Moreover, the above study by The Trevor Project found that LGBTQ youth who lived in an accepting community, had access to LGBTQ-affirming spaces, and/or felt high social support from family and friends reported significantly lower rates of attempting suicide in the past year.
How to Support Your Transgender and Gender-Diverse Loved Ones
Be an Ally: Being an ally means actively working to support and uplift the transgender and gender-diverse community. Advocate for transgender rights, speak out against discrimination, and create safe spaces for transgender individuals.
Educate Yourself: It’s essential to educate yourself on transgender and gender-diverse issues to better understand the challenges your loved ones may be facing. Seek out resources, attend educational events, and read books and blogs authored by transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals to learn more.
Educate Others with Accurate Information: There is an unfortunate number of myths and misinformation being spread about gender-affirming care and outcomes. A few key points:
- Every major medical and mental health association support gender-affirming care for youth. that gender-affirming care is best practice.
- Research shows that access to gender-affirming care is associated with decreased rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, and other adverse mental health outcomes.
- Puberty suppression, menstrual suppression, and hormones are used to treat cisgender adolescents with other medical conditions, with the same “risks and benefits. Moreover, puberty suppression has been used for over 40 years in pediatrics, and over 20 years with transgender teens.
- Rates of regret are incredibly low in relation to gender-affirming medical care.
Stay informed on Legislation: Stay informed about current bills and where they are in the North Carolina General Assembly. Track anti-transgender legislation here.
Show Your Support: Show your support by using your voice and advocating for transgender rights. Attend rallies, sign petitions, and contact your elected officials to express your support for transgender rights. Consider sending a letter to the editor of your local paper in opposition to the slate of anti-transgender legislation, particularly gender affirming care bans, we are seeing in North Carolina.
Follow and Connect with Organizations Opposing Anti-Transgender Legislation: If you want to show your support, but are unsure where to start, consider exploring the following resources. Oftentimes, these organizations have petitions written that you can sign on to, or send directly to your representative:
Listen: One of the best ways to support your transgender and gender-diverse loved ones is to listen to them. Listen to their experiences, their concerns, and their feelings. Validate their experiences, show empathy, and offer support in any way you can.
Help your loved one find support: Finding a therapist or support group can be really overwhelming. Sometimes, having a family member or friend assist in the process can be helpful. Check out our blog on How to Find a Transgender-Affirming Therapist in North Carolina for additional resources, in addition to the information below.
Resources in North Carolina For Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender-Diverse Folks
LGBTQ Center of Raleigh: The LGBTQ Center of Raleigh provides a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals, including transgender and gender-diverse adolescents and adults. The center offers support groups, HIV/STI testing, an LGBT library, community events, educational resources, and more.
LGBT Center of Durham: The LGBT Center of Durham provides a number of services for LGBTQ+ community members, including programs specifically for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse adolescents and adults. There are drop-in hours at the LGBTQ+ Youth Center, support groups, and other resource offerings.
Transcend Charlotte: Transcend Charlotte is a transgender-led organization whose mission is to pursue equity and social justice for transgender and gender expansive communities through education, advocacy, mental health, and social support services.
Be Bold Psychology and Consulting also offers trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, celebratory and inclusive care for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse clients and their family members. We have clinicians with immediate availability for telehealth therapy in North Carolina, or walk-and-talk therapy in Raleigh, Durham, and Cary, North Carolina. We offer individual, couples, family, relationship, and group therapy options, including an open/ongoing virtual Adult Queer+ Therapeutic Support Group!
To begin online therapy with a trauma-informed therapist specializing in gender-affirming, queer-affirming, inclusive therapy and letter-writing services, check out the options below:
- Send an emailto info@beboldpsychnc.com or submit a request for a free 20-minute consultation here!
- Schedule your first appointment with a transgender-affirming therapist in North Carolina
- You don’t need to navigate these uncertain times alone. Get the support you deserve, now!
