statement opposing texas legislation

BELMONT LGBTQ+ ALLIANCE’S STATEMENT OPPOSING THE CRIMINALIZATION OF GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR TRANS YOUTH

Texas’ Governor Greg Abbott recently issued an executive order criminalizing gender-affirming care for transgender youth. This order mandates that parents and caregivers of trans kids be reported and prosecuted for child abuse for providing gender-affirming surgery, hormones or puberty blockers to their kids.

Patients and their providers, NOT politicians, should decide what healthcare is in youths’ best interests.

Denying best-practice medical care and support to transgender kids is traumatic and can be life-threatening. Every major medical and psychiatric professional organization recommends affirmative care, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association. 

Transgender kids, like all kids, have the best chance to thrive when they are supported and can get the health care they need. Evidence shows blockers and gender-affirming hormone therapy are related to substantially lower rates of depression, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth.

Anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ legislation–at an unprecedented level across the country–is a well-funded, highly coordinated attack. While this legislation may not directly impact transgender individuals in Massachusetts, when transgender youth hear about these attacks on their identities, they feel threatened and powerless.  

–       With thanks to LexPride on this statement. –

WHAT CAN WE DO?

●     Educate yourself about misinformation. False rhetoric/ fear are driving these policies: Answering your questions about recent transgender bills.

●     Amplify Accurate Information. Share publications and influencers speaking out against these attacks. Chase Strangio, ACLU’s Deputy Director of Transgender Justice explains issues here on social media.

●     Make a public statement condemning hateful legislation/supporting trans kids + families. Ask employers, schools, faith communities to do the same.

●     Display a trans or rainbow flag, add a pride button to your clothing, a sticker on your office, your pronouns to your email signature and Zoom.

●     Contact representatives. This legislative tracker shows states where healthcare and other bills targeting transgender kids have been introduced; some have already passed — more than 25 bills in 20 states, including NH, FL, MS, AL, GA, SC, NC, TN, KY, WV, OH, IN, WI, IA, MO, KS, OK, ID, UT, AZ. Encourage family, friends, and coworkers who live in these states to tell representatives to stop pushing these bills. Use this form to email or Tweet representatives in 35+ states where these bills are pending.

●     Learn about other actions you can take: Resources for supporting TX Trans & Nonbinary Youth.

●     Support the trans kids in your life. If a transgender person has shared that aspect of their identity with you, reach out to them privately to let them know you’re thinking of them/ want to support them. Please only reach out directly to people who have explicitly shared this part of their identity with you themselves. Never discuss someone else’s gender identity or sexual orientation with others.

●     Join organizations providing support and resources for trans kids and families. Contribute to local groups that provide support for families with transgender kids, such as Greater Boston PFLAG, and contribute to organizations in states where these policies are being pushed, such as Equality Texas, or other LGBTQ support organizations.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

●       MythBusters: Debunking Anti-Transgender Messaging

●       Myths and Facts: Battling Disinformation about Transgender Rights

●       Conservatives Against Discrimination

●       Nadine Smith Civil rights activist, LGBTQ community organizer, and Executive Director of Equality Florida (also fighting a slew of anti-trans legislation).

●       Imara Jones TransLash Podcasts + social media, newsletter & more

●       TG Forum  Highlights of all the major news stories affecting trans people

●       Political Research Associates – video presentations and articles (including a series unpacking the attacks on trans kids that is both enlightening and terrifying)

●       them. Magazine Great articles written by LGBTQ+ authors

●       2022 Could be the Most Anti-Trans Legislative Year in History

●       How Parents Can Support a Child Who’s Trans

Contact us with concerns or questions: belmontlgbtqalliance@gmail.com