NEW YORK — Today, the Montana House Judiciary Committee voted to advance House Bill 113, a bill that would prohibit medical professionals from providing best-practice medical care to transgender youth. This gender-affirming medical care is backed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and other leading health authorities, and research shows that gender-affirming care has been shown to reduce suicide ideation and attempts in transgender individuals, along with social support, familial support, and reduction of discrimination.
According to The Trevor Project’s 2020 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth have seriously considered suicide; more than 3 in 4 have reported symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder; and more than 2 in 3 have reported symptoms of major depressive disorder. These mental health concerns are exacerbated when transgender and nonbinary youth are denied access to medical care.
“HB113 is based on a basic misunderstanding of transgender youth and the decades of research and medical experience showing that this best-practice medical care is in their best interest,” said Sam Brinton (they/them pronouns), VP of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project. “This type of best-practice medical care for transgender youth simply delays puberty until young people are old enough to make their own decisions about their gender identity. This bill aims to take choices away from patients and parents by preventing them from accessing gender-affirming health care, which we know from research can lead to positive effects on body image, overall psychological well-being, and reduced suicidality.”
A recent national survey conducted by The Trevor Project between October and December of 2020 found that over 90% of LGBTQ youth said that recent politics negatively influenced their well-being. And a peer-reviewed study by Trevor’s researchers found that transgender and nonbinary youth who reported experiencing discrimination based on their gender identity had more than double the odds of attempting suicide in the past year compared to transgender and nonbinary youth who did not experience gender identity-based discrimination.
A poll by The Trevor Project and Morning Consult found that nearly one-third of transgender and nonbinary youth felt unsafe in their living situation since the start of COVID-19, and 75% indicated feeling more lonely than at the start of the pandemic.
About The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people. The Trevor Project offers a suite of 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention programs, including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat as well as the world’s largest safe space social networking site for LGBTQ youth, TrevorSpace. Trevor also operates an education program with resources for youth-serving adults and organizations, an advocacy department fighting for pro-LGBTQ legislation and against anti-LGBTQ rhetoric/policy positions, and a research team to discover the most effective means to help young LGBTQ people in crisis and end suicide. If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or suicidal, our trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386 via chat www.TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678-678.
