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

The letter comes as Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton threaten the well-being of transgender youth & their parents, and lawmakers in more than a dozen state legislatures push the most extreme anti-trans bills in history

WASHINGTON - March 2, 2022 - Today, more than 2,500 parents 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 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 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," said Human Rights Campaign Interim President Joni Madison. "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."

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.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

FULL LETTER FOLLOWS

The state of our union for transgender youth is very dangerous. Today, as parents who care about the well-being of all children - transgender, non-binary and cisgender - we are raising our voices in unity against extremist, discriminatory actions by lawmakers putting transgender children in harm's way.

Last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott shocked the country when he took the unprecedented step of directing Texas's Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate age-appropriate, medically necessary, gender-affirming healthcare for transgender adolescents and teens - the same best-practice care supported by every major medical organization - as child abuse. He's also asking teachers, therapists and other licensed professionals to turn in families supporting those trans youth. While these actions are not legally binding, they do have real consequences. Parents in Texas are terrified that, simply by loving and supporting their kids, they can be reported to Child Protective Services.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in more than a dozen states are considering anti-transgender legislation, including moving bills in Alabama, Ohio and Arizona that would criminalize healthcare decisions made between parents, medical experts and transgender youth. Extremist politicians are also seeking to remove books that include transgender characters from school libraries, prohibit any discussion of LGBTQ+ people in schools, force teachers to "out" students to their parents, require separate bathrooms for transgender students and ban transgender youth from playing sports.

These are not real policy conversations. They're attacks on the very existence of transgender children.

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.

Craven political attacks on transgender youth have real consequences: a recent study found that, in South Dakota, where Governor Kristi Noem personally authored and recently signed the first anti-trans bill of 2022 into law, and where her chief of staff recently likened transgender student athletes to terrorists, nearly 90% of LGBTQ+ people experience feelings of depression. When asked why LGBTQ+ people in her state experience such high levels of depression, Gov. Noem claimed not to know the reason.

We know why, Governor Noem: attacks on our kids are hurting them. And research proves it.

Ironically, lots of politicians are talking about "parents' rights" these days, especially when it comes to making education and healthcare decisions for children. If having rights as parents means anything, it has to mean that we are able to provide our children with the evidence-based medical care they need. It has to mean that we can openly affirm that they are wonderful as they are and that we're right beside them on their journey. Parenting is full of challenges, but we love our children - including transgender children - and we are proud of them. It is these lawmakers who should be ashamed.

Governor Abbott, Governor Reynolds, Governor DeSantis, Governor Ivey, Governor Noem - all governors and legislators across the country: Stop threatening our trans kids.