The Perceived Health Implications of Policies and Rhetoric Targeting Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth: A Community-Based Qualitative Study

Megan S Paceley; Zosimo A Dikitsas; Emera Greenwood; Lauren B McInroy; Jessica N Fish; Natasha Williams; Michael R Riquino; Malcolm Lin; Sara Birnel Henderson; Deborah S Levine

doi:10.1089/trgh.2021.0125

The Perceived Health Implications of Policies and Rhetoric Targeting Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth: A Community-Based Qualitative Study

Transgend Health. 2023 Feb 8;8(1):100-103. doi: 10.1089/trgh.2021.0125. eCollection 2023 Feb.

Affiliations

¹ University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
² The Ohio State University College of Social Work, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
³ Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland Prevention Research Center, College Park, Maryland, USA.
⁴ Planned Parenthood Federation of America, New York, New York, USA.
⁵ Centerlink: The Community of LGBT Centers, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Abstract

Purpose: In early 2021, >50 bills targeting transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth in the United States were proposed; these policies and the rhetoric surrounding them is associated with TGD health disparities.

Methods: A community-based qualitative study utilized focus groups with a TGD youth research advisory board to explore their knowledge and perceived impacts of the current policy climate and rhetoric in one Midwestern state.

Results: Themes revealed (1) mental health, (2) structural impacts, and (3) messages to policymakers.

Conclusions: Discriminatory policies and rhetoric harm TGD youth; health professionals should denounce the harmful disinformation perpetuated by these policies.

Keywords: discrimination; gender diverse; policy; rhetoric; suicide; transgender.