The State of Gender Affirming Care for Trans Kids In the U.S.

Paceley said it raises questions for trans youth like, “Who’s looking at me? What’s going to happen when I go in these spaces?” Adding, that fear contributes to anxiety and depression. And if healthcare bans for people under 18, 21, or 26 do pass, “that’s a long time to live without affirming health care that can really, really reduce gender dysphoria and save young people’s lives,” Paceley said.

But there is hope, particularly in how the trans community cares for its own.

To counter the negative impact of anti-trans legislation, Paceley said it’s important to tap into community resources, encourage education, and create affirming spaces for queer and trans people. The queer youth they’ve talked to in their research at-large have pointed to the importance of having queer and trans friends, engaging in activism and subverting negative societal expectations. And for young people like Cass, there are increasingly more transgender adults and elders who can offer advice on navigating a hostile political climate, and show that a long life as a trans person isn’t just possible, it’s probable.

For JJ Favela, coming out as a transgender woman has been euphoric. Favela, 24, lives in Tempe, Arizona and started transitioning socially and taking hormone replacement therapy last year. While she hasn’t faced legal barriers to accessing gender-affirming care, she knows the toll of seeing the increase in anti-trans legislation.

“As much pain as living in this political climate has brought me, it can never take away the sheer joy that I feel getting to finally express who I am,” said Favela. “And if you’re young and you recognize that, and you’re in a hostile environment, you know, I know that there are ways that you can reach out to people and find resources that are there to help you.”

Passing policies at the local and state level, though, remain of highest importance in combatting a harmful political climate. At least eight states and Washington D.C. have recently passed laws and executive orders to protect parents and kids fleeing penalties for seeking gender-affirming care — California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Colorado, Washington, Minnesota and Illinois (many of these laws also contain protections for abortion providers and patients seeking refuge). 

But for those who can’t leave their home states or don’t want to, engaging in activism may be their best bet against these restrictions. Reed said one of the best strategies in pushing back on these laws is having trans people testify before lawmakers and school boards, humanizing the highly politicized issue. Strangio also warned that stopping these bans from passing now is imperative and that those who want to get involved should follow local organizers’ lead. 

“Everyone should do everything in their power to prevent bans on health care from passing because they ultimately will be devastating, and they will be difficult to stop in court in the long run, even though we’ve had tremendous success in the short term,” Strangio said in his livestream.