MISINFORMATION IS KILLING THE TRANSGENDER AND NONBINARY COMMUNITY AND PROPAGATING ANTI-TRANS RHETORIC
We Must Facilitate Awareness, Raise Visibility and Instill Empathy to Fight this Epidemic
As anti-trans rhetoric continues to rise in our country, misinformation about nonbinary, gender non-conforming and transgender people runs rampant. Currently, the ACLU is tracking 467 anti-LGBTQ bills in the U.S., many specifically targeting this community. Anti-trans rhetoric often pushes a false narrative of young people being rushed to surgery as soon as they show signs of being a gender non-conforming person, injecting unfounded fear into the public. Transitioning is a multi-tiered process completed alongside professionals. We must facilitate awareness on this topic, raise visibility of the transgender and nonbinary people and instill empathy in our communities.
There is a lack of understanding surrounding the range of gender-affirming care available. Although we all have our own individual experiences of gender identity, when someone’s gender identity is different from their assigned sex at birth, they can experience mental health challenges. Gender-affirming care can help alleviate stress related to gender identity through therapy for issues like suicidal thoughts, depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, a recent Trevor Project survey revealed that 93% of transgender and nonbinary youth are anxious about being denied this type of care due to state or local legislation. Harmful legislation has made this fear a reality, exacerbating mental health issues and deaths within this community. In fact, 45% of LGBTQ youth considered suicide in 2021, including 53% of transgender and nonbinary youth. Proper mental health care would significantly reduce these numbers. If we value the well-being of our youth, it is crucial that we offer them life-saving care.
Sadly, the public is often misinformed about transitioning, leading to erroneous misconceptions. We must not lose hope, however. Medical News Today found that for many transgender people, quality of life improves after transition, citing better psychosocial functioning, more stable relationships and increased contentment. Education and access to care are vital to the well-being of this community—lives are at stake.