SPSSI's 2023 Virtual Advocacy Day:
Protecting the Lives and Rights of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth

Click here or on the image above to read our two-page brief

SPSSI has hosted Advocacy Days for several years, and each year we choose a different topic. In 2023, we're focusing on "Protecting the Lives and Rights of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth."

Why is it so important for organizations like SPSSI to advocate on behalf of transgender and gender diverse youth?

At the national, state, and local levels, policy decisions are harming transgender and gender diverse youth. At the national level, for example, the House passed H.R. 5 (the "Parents Bill of Rights Act"), which would, among other things, require schools to forcibly out transgender students, even if it puts those youth in harm’s way. In Florida at the state level, for example, the governor has asked state universities to provide him with detailed information on students receiving gender-affirming treatment. (HRC is currently tracking 110 bills across the country that seek to limit or prevent access to gender-affirming care, seek to impose bathroom bans, seek to censor curricula, or seek to limit or ban drag performances.)
Research shows that stigma, minority stress, and harassment, among other factors, can negatively affect trans youth. For example, the APA Resolution on Supporting Sexual/Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents in Schools, which cites a wealth of research evidence, states that "diverse gender expressions and presentations, regardless of gender identity, and diverse gender identities, beyond a binary classification, are normal and positive variations of the human experience." The resolution endorses "local, state, and federal policies and legislation that promote safe and positive school environments free of bullying, discrimination, and harassment for children and adolescents of all ages and in all school settings, specifically including gender and sexual diverse children and adolescents and those who are perceived to be gender or sexual diverse."

Legislative Priorities

The Congressional Equality Caucus, the caucus of 192 members that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, helped SPSSI identify three legislative priorities that are especially important to protecting the lives and rights of transgender and gender diverse youth in this 118th Congress:

Support re-introduction and passage of the Equality Act. The Equality Act (known as H.R. 5 in the 117th Congress, when it was last introduced) is a comprehensive bill that would provide federal civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ Americans and their families. This bill would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system.
Support re-introduction and passage of the Pride in Mental Health Act. This act (known as H.R. 7644 in the 117th Congress, when it was last introduced) would expand programs that prevent and treat child abuse and neglect to address issues facing youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, nonbinary, or gender-variant members of indigenous communities (e.g., Two Spirit). Specifically, these programs include (1) research and reporting requirements, (2) providing technical assistance, (3) grants to states and local agencies to train child-welfare personnel, and (4) community-based prevention-service grants.
Push back against proposed legislation that would curb the rights of transgender and gender diverse youth. Just as it is important to support legislation that protects and extends the rights of transgender and gender diverse youth, it is equally important for lawmakers to work through their offices, committee activities, and caucuses to shut down legislation that would bring harm to transgender and gender diverse youth. For example, the Parents Bill of Rights Act (H.R. 5 in the 118th Congress) recently passed the House along party lines and has been referred to the Senate. If this bill is signed into law, it would require schools to forcibly out transgender students, even if it puts those youth in harm’s way (see Equality Caucus press release for details), and bring other potential harms to trans, LGBTQ+, and all students.

Resources

Back to SPSSI's 2023 Virtual Advocacy Day

SPSSI's 2023 Virtual Advocacy Day: Protecting the Lives and Rights of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth

Legislative Priorities

Resources

SPSSI's 2023 Virtual Advocacy Day:
Protecting the Lives and Rights of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth