New HRC Foundation Report Finds that More than 90% of Parents are Supportive of Their Child's Trans Identity, but More Than Half of Trans Children Suffer From Mental Health[...]

WASHINGTON - Today, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF), the educational arm of the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, released the 2024 Parents of Trans Youth Report-which highlight the struggles trans youth continue to face despite increased parental support-and its first ever "Caring for Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Expansive ChildrenGuide," created by HRCF's Parents for Transgender Equality National Council (PTEC). Released together, the report and guide offer a series of actionable steps that parents can take to support the trans youth in their lives, including using the correct name and pronouns, advocating for inclusive policies and practices at the child's school, and checking in with their child to make sure they feel supported and respected at school and in their community.

The report features data collected in collaboration with the University of Florida and University of Arizona from nearly 1,500 parents and caregivers of transgender and nonbinary youth ages 18 and under. It finds that while more than 92% of parents surveyed were supportive of their child's trans identity, trans children disproportionately suffer from school bullying and mental health challenges. In fact, more than half of parents surveyed said they need more resources to help their kids navigate healthcare and legal processes with their transition. The new PTEC guide is meant to help fill this gap.

"This guide is exactly the tool I needed years ago when my daughter was searching for the words to tell us who she was," said Parents for Transgender Equality National Council member Keisha Bell. "The guide highlights the nuances of what it means to care for a trans or nonbinary child while also providing guidance to those who are unsure of how to navigate this transition. From helping find an appropriate clinician to providing detailed steps that help support your child's needs, this guide provides the resources needed to ensure the trans and nonbinary youth in your life feel seen and understood."

The guide is a timely resource, as the report highlights that many transgender and nonbinary youth are certain of their gender identity at a young age. On average, parents and caregivers of transgender children said their child shared their gender identity with them around 11 years old - and over half (56.2%) shared their identity before the age of 13. However, despite a vast majority (92.5%) of parents currently supporting their trans children, over 1 in 7 (15.9%) reported that their children had been hospitalized for mental health distress, a third of whom (33.0%) were hospitalized for distress related specifically to their gender identity. In addition, over half (55.1%) of parents reported that their child was bullied in the past year, and substantial proportions reported that their child's school was not supportive of their child when it came to restrooms (21.3%) or locker room (32.9%) use.

"Parents have made a great deal of progress towards supporting trans youth, while the schools and systems of care around them are often falling short," said Shoshana Goldberg, Director of Public Education & Research at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. "By taking simple actions like meeting with the school principal and counselor, connecting with trans-affirming local and online communities, and advocating for their child in health care settings, parents can go a long way towards promoting better outcomes for the trans and nonbinary youth in their lives."

Key findings from the 2024 Parents of Trans Youth Report include:

Experiences At School

• Over half (55%) of parents report that their child has been bullied at school in the last year.
  
• About one in five (21.3%) parents chose their child's school/district based on policies regarding LGBTQ+ students
• Only a quarter (26.2%) had a gender support plan for their child at school -however, of those who did, over 90% said the support plan was very (48.9%) or somewhat (41.2%) helpful

Child Health Care

• 95% of parents said that their child saw at least one doctor in the prior year who knew their child was trans, and treated them with respect. However, in the past year alone
• 1 in 4 (24%) had to teach a doctor or health care providers about trans people to receive appropriate car
• 1 in 20 (5.1%) had a doctor refuse to give their child trans-related and/or gender affirming car
• 1 in 5 (21.6%) have ever changed providers due to mistreatment, lack of competency or other reasons related to gender-affirming care
• 1 in 4 (25.1%) experienced at least one barrier to accessing gender-affirming care for their child

Mental Health Challenges

• Many parents report that their transgender or non-binary child has been diagnosed with depression (39.6%) or an anxiety disorder (49.4%).
  
• 15.9% of parents said their child had been hospitalized for mental health needs, and among those parents, 33.0% said it was related to their gender identity.
  
• Nearly one in five (19.9%) parents and caregivers screened positive for moderate or severe depression
  

Advocacy and Engagement

• Half (50%) of parents have written to or called their political representatives regarding transgender issues, among many other forms of advocacy.
  
• Nearly one in five (17%) parents said their child has spoken publicly (such as on a panel or webinar) about transgender issues.
  

To read the full 2024 Parents of Trans Youth Report, click here and to read the Caring for Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Expansive Children guide click here.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public's understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.

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