Thousands of Parents Join Human Rights Campaign in Condemning State Attacks on Transgender and Non-Binary Youth

by Laurel Powell •

Today, thousands of parents - and over 7,000 people in total - from all 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C. issued an open letter organized by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, condemning the avalanche of anti-transgender legislation moving in legislatures across the country. There are dozens of bills filed in state legislatures across the country attempting to criminalize or prevent access to age-appropriate, medically-necessary, gender-affirming care, forbid transgender youth from playing sports consistent with their gender identity, and preventing transgender youth from accessing school restrooms consistent with their gender identity. Further, legislatures are trying to ban books that include LGBTQ+ characters or themes, censor curriculum content, and allow teachers to refuse to use a student’s preferred name or correct pronouns. And last night, in his State of the Union speech, President Joe Biden condemned the “onslaught of state laws targeting transgender Americans,” pledging his support for trans youth being targeted by lawmakers in statehouses across the country. “To our younger transgender Americans, I will always have your back as your President, so you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential.”

Craven anti-equality legislators and other elected officials are challenging our community like never before. Whether it’s from threats to separate transgender children from their affirming parents in Texas, a bill to ban age-appropriate, medically-necessary gender-affirming care in Alabama, a bill to prevent a teacher from recognizing the existence of LGBTQ+ people in the classroom, or a bill preventing transgender youth from playing sports alongside their friends in Iowa, we stand shoulder to shoulder with trans kids and their loved ones in this fight.

Parents who affirm their transgender kids’ identity do so because it is what is in their child’s best interest. Politicians are making the unconscionable choice to jeopardize the well-being of those children to score political points. The Human Rights Campaign and thousands of parents nationwide are calling on governors and state legislators in states across the country to stop threatening transgender kids.

Joni Madison, Interim President of the Human Rights Campaign

The parents, speaking for the thousands of families of transgender and non-binary children across the country, write: “None of us know who our children will grow to be. None of us comes equipped with all of the answers. When we need help, we often turn to our children’s teachers, to doctors, to those who have the expertise, knowledge and experience that we do not. But these laws would effectively shut the door on these resources for hundreds of thousands of families across the country. It’s why the nation’s leading health, education and human services groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Education Association, and the American Psychological Association — together representing more than 7 million youth-serving professionals — released an open letter calling for lawmakers in states across the country to stop these measures. The experts have spoken — and they make clear that affirming and supporting LGBTQ+ youth is essential for optimal health and wellbeing. Period.”

A record number of anti-transgender bills were filed in 2021, largely focused on denying transgender youth the ability to receive gender-affirming care and participate in school athletics programs. Even more anti-transgender legislation is on track to be filed in 2022. South Dakota has already passed one anti-transgender law this year, and Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin are on the verge of passing anti-transgender bills into laws in the coming days. Additionally, Florida is considering two bills that more broadly impact all LGBTQ+ youth.

HRC’s letter is open to parents of transgender youth as well as other parents who stand allied with them in condemning this spate of anti-trans activity. To read the full letter, or to add your name, please click here.

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To make a general inquiry, please visit our contact page. Members of the media can reach our press office at: (202) 572-8968 or email press@hrc.org.

Topics:
Transgender
Children & Youth