Framing Guidance How to Communicate about Transgender Youth

From the introduction:

“We know how to support transgender youth. Policies, practices, and care that accept and affirm young people’s gender identities can help transgender young people thrive. Research clearly shows that support and acceptance from parents, using young people’s chosen names, enacting inclusive policies and practices at schools and in the community, and providing gender-affirming medical care all support the physical health and wellbeing of trans youth. Moreover, supporting their wellbeing today helps them become happier, healthier adults who can contribute to their communities and well into the future.

Using this knowledge to guide decision-making is more critical than ever. While the Surgeon General recently called for an “all of society” effort to address youth mental health in the face of rising rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality among young people, states like Texas are threatening the wellbeing of transgender youth and their families. Due to bullying, violence, discrimination, and messages that they don’t belong, transgender youth have some of the highest rates of mental health issues, including nearly twice the rate of suicidality than the general youth population. Ensuring access to research-based support is thus essential to transgender young people’s survival.

Combating these laws and policies means harnessing what we know about adolescent development to inform how to talk about it. Over the past four years the FrameWorks Institute, UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent, and developmental scientists across the U.S. have worked together to translate the science of adolescent development for the public and policymakers. Below is our guidance on how to communicate effectively about transgender youth.”