Access to affordable and quality healthcare is essential for the preservation of mental and physical health. Healthcare services ensure that individuals remain productive and lead meaningful lives devoid of needless suffering. Vulnerable populations, such as the transgender community, face numerous challenges in society. It is often the case that individuals who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) commonly face discrimination at home and in work environments. Intense societal scrutiny and the general lack of acceptance make it difficult for LGBTQ individuals to lead normal and productive lives. The challenges LGBTQ individuals face have been compounded by the fact that numerous states across the U.S. have banned or are in the process of passing legislation to ban all gender-affirming services in their jurisdictions. It is estimated that banning the provision of gender-affirming services will result in the denial of healthcare services to approximately 58,000 transgender individuals (The Williams Institute, 2022). In addition, affected individuals are likely to experience increased incidents of depression and suicidal ideation (Tordoff et al., 2022). There is a need to ensure that transgender individuals can access the services they require.
American States, such as Arkansas, have recently banned the provision of gender-affirming services for transgender minors, while others, such as Texas, have implemented regulations that force health institutions to deny transgender individuals access to the aforementioned services. In essence, LGBTQ individuals will be denied access to mental, surgical, medical, and non-medical services designed to address their unique needs. Today I ask all governors and members of legislative bodies in the states considering banning the provision of gender-affirming care to disavow the proposals and protect the transgender community’s fundamental human right to healthcare.
Two years ago, I was part of a team that cared for three transgender teenagers who had been violently attacked by a group of five unidentified men. One of the teenagers attempted suicide twice while at the center. She had suffered years of discrimination and abuse from a community that was unwilling to accept the fact that an individual born as a boy identified as female. She explained how her family’s support, though unwavering, was not enough to protect her from the harsh realities of the outside world. At first, she hid her true identity and conformed to societal definitions of how someone who looked like her had to behave and dress. The mental strain that she experienced in her environment was unbearable. She struggled to fit in with her peers and was constantly experiencing bullying at school. She finally got the courage to embrace her identity and was viciously assaulted. She suffered bouts of depression while at the center and attempted to end her life.
If the victims of the aforementioned crime had had access to gender-affirming services, they would have had the opportunity to engage in social transitions that would have boosted their self-esteem. They would have been equipped with the tools to navigate challenges and become productive members of society. In addition, they would have been spared the depression and suicidal ideation that is brought about by the stigmatization of the LGBTQ community. The affected teenagers are still receiving treatment for depression and suicidal ideation as they struggle to cope with the many challenges that LGBTQ individuals continue to face.
There are numerous benefits to providing gender affirming services to teenagers. According to a study conducted by Green et al. (2022), increased access to gender-affirming hormone therapy was associated with low rates of suicide and depression among transgender and non-binary youth in the United States of America. In addition, access to gender-affirming care was linked to a 73% decline in self-harming behavior and a 60% reduction in instances of moderate and severe depression (Tordoff et al., 2022). It is vital to note that the lack of access to gender-affirming services is associated with a threefold increase in instances of depression compared to the baseline (Tordoff et al., 2022). The aforementioned findings demonstrate that increasing access to gender-affirming care significantly reduces the incidence of self-harming behavior and depression among transgender individuals.
The challenges that the LGBTQ community faces are significantly compounded by the lack of access to gender-affirming services. LGBTQ individuals are adversely affected by depression and suicidal ideation in instances where they are denied access to gender-affirming health services. The resultant mental struggle has resulted in anguish and the loss of lives that would otherwise have been saved. By disavowing proposals intended to ban gender-affirming services, governors and members of legislative bodies in the various American States can ensure that the LGBTQ community has access to life-saving healthcare services. Gender-affirming therapies will ensure that the mental health and overall well-being of LGBTQ adolescents and children are protected. For these reasons, I urge governors and members of legislative bodies in America’s states to disavow proposals aimed at banning gender-affirming care. I also ask that members of the fourth estate and the community to reach out to their governors to express their disdain for the proposed laws.
References
Green, A. E., DeChants, J. P., Price, M. N., & Davis, C. K. (2022). Association of gender-affirming hormone therapy with depression, thoughts of suicide, and attempted suicide among transgender and nonbinary youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 70(4), 643–649. Web.
Tordoff, D. M., Wanta, J. W., Collin, A., Stepney, C., Inwards-Breland, D. J., & Ahrens, K. (2022). Mental health outcomes in transgender and nonbinary youths receiving gender-affirming care. JAMA Network Open, 5(2), 1–13. Web.
The Williams Institute. (2022). Prohibiting gender-affirming medical care for youth. UCLA School of Law. Web.