Joint Statement Emphasizing the Collective Impact of Anti-Trans Legislation on Community Mental Health, Housing, and Employment
We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, write to express our collective and urgent concern about the ongoing and expanding efforts to pass anti-transgender legislation across the nation and specifically in Texas. These bills and policies—many of which seek to restrict access to basic care, dignity and respect, limit the rights of transgender students and individuals, and criminalizing aspects of trans and gender expansive existence. Anti-trans legislative proposals pose an immediate and severe threat to the mental health and well-being of transgender individuals, particularly transgender youth, as well as the siblings, cousins, friends, relatives, colleagues, neighbors, employers, and broader community trans people not only exist in, but contribute and elevate.
We are united in our belief that the impact of anti-trans legislation cannot be overstated. Research shows that policies that discriminate against transgender people exacerbate feelings of stigma, rejection, and isolation—factors that contribute to profound mental health impacts, including increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. According to a 2021 survey by the Trevor Project, nearly 42% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year, and for transgender and with nonbinary youth, this number is even higher. Alarmingly, this tragic outcome has been found to correlate directly with state-level policies that limit or outright ban gender-affirming care and support for transgender individuals.
Moreover, studies show that these harmful policies not only affect transgender individuals but also ripple out to impact their families, friends, and communities at large. The stigmatization of transgender people fuels a culture of intolerance that further entrenches social divides, leading to community-wide mental health crises and exacerbating the emotional toll on those already marginalized. Research from the American Psychological Association highlights that transgender youth who have access to healthcare—whether in healthcare, educational settings, or social circles—report significantly lower rates of depression and suicide attempts. Restricting or criminalizing these affirming environments thus has disastrous consequences.
We cannot ignore the profound effects on the health- and social-care systems, either. As mental health professionals, educators, and community leaders, we have a responsibility to prioritize the well-being of all individuals, especially those who are experiencing the highest level of vulnerabilities. The effects of anti-trans policies are not just theoretical—they manifest in real-time as increased suicide rates, elevated rates of self-harm, substance use, and overdose, and a growing mental health crisis among transgender individuals. Harmful policies destabilize housing and employment leaving devastating impacts on local economies. In states with legislation restricting access to gender-affirming care, health care systems are seeing an increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations among transgender youth, signaling a direct correlation between these legislative efforts and exacerbated mental health crises and avoidable costs with preventive care.
As advocates for the rights of all individuals to live their lives free from discrimination, we urge policymakers to reconsider these harmful legislative efforts. Rather than enacting laws that perpetuate stigma and harm, we call for the expansion of policies that protect and support transgender individuals which in turn protects families and communities. We support efforts to create safe, affirming environments for transgender youth and adults alike—places where they are free to express their authentic self without fear of violence, discrimination, or abandonment of care.
The evidence is clear: Anti-transgender legislation endangers ALL OUR LIVES. It destabilizes the economy, housing and mental health all required for thriving and successful communities. It is our collective responsibility and privilege to take immediate action to halt the harmful effects of these laws and work toward a society that values, respects, and affirms the rights of all people.
We, the undersigned, unite in this call to action. Together, we can build a future in which the mental health and well-being of our family, friends and neighbors—transgender or otherwise—is prioritized and protected.