Scout, Ph.D.
Director, The Fenway Institute's Network for LGBT Health Equity
Science, Not Politics, Needs to Guide Policies Protecting Trans Youth
Posted: 10/19/2012 2:10 pm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scout-phd/science-not-politics-needs-to-guide-policies-protecting-trans-youth_b_1987280.htmlAfter my year-long research study on social determinants of transgender health, a leading conclusion was that we need to pass policies to protect our trans youth -- but now a hate group is threatening the lives of youth by drowning the science in inflammatory rhetoric.
Earlier this week the East Aurora, Ill., school district passed a policy that would provide key supports to their trans youth. Soon thereafter a confirmed hate group, the Illinois Family Institute, published an outraged letter and urged people to complain about the policy. Today the East Aurora school district might very well rescind that protective policy.
There is absolutely no scientific debate about the health risks of growing up trans. There is no scientific debate about the stigma trans youth endure, or about the extremely high number of trans youth who attempt suicide. And there is absolutely no scientific evidence that supporting trans youth in any way compromises the experience of non-trans youth.
