Advocacy

South Dakota Lawmakers Propose Medical Care Ban Harmful to Transgender Youth

South Dakota legislators recently proposed HB 1057, a bill that would criminalize medical care for any transgender patient under the age of 18, even when such care is deemed medically necessary and has the consent of the patient’s parents. The proposed legislation goes against medical care best practices for transgender youth, which are backed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other leading medical authorities.
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Advocacy

Conversion Therapy: What’s Happening in 2020?

Since 2012, 18 states and the District of Columbia have acted to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy — with Utah poised to become the 19th state in the coming weeks. That momentum looks to continue in 2020: the states of Florida, Missouri, Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia have already filed such bills for the 2020 legislative session, with Oklahoma, Minnesota, and others preparing to take action before the sessions begin. According to The Trevor Project’s research, LGBTQ youth who report having at least one accepting adult were 40% less likely to report a suicide…
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Advocacy

The Trevor Project Responds: CDC Report Shows Increased Suicide Rates Lower U.S. Life Expectancy

The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ young people, responded to the CDC’s “Suicide Mortality in the United States, 1999–2017” report. Released today, the study is one in a series of three government reports and shows a drop in US life expectancy. “Today’s CDC report highlights the significant increase in suicide rates over time, proving that it is a continued public health crisis. For 10 years suicide has been the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., but we know that young people, specifically LGBTQ youth, are particularly impacted. Suicide is the second leading cause…