Help Support the Trans Youth Community
When it comes to support for the transgender youth community, taking some extra care and research is highly recommended. No matter what age category you are in, life is not easy as a trans individual. Although society is opening up to the idea more every day, we still face many issues. Take a minute to check out the AFSP Williams Institute – Suicide Attempts among Transgender and Gender – Non-Conforming Adults. This may be a very interesting read for you, as it was for myself.
Even if you don’t have the time to take a look at the facts… Here are a few that stood out to me:
“The prevalence of suicide attempts among respondents
to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey
(NTDS), conducted by the National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force and National Center for Transgender Equality,
is 41 percent, which vastly exceeds the 4.6 percent of
the overall U.S. population who report a lifetime suicide
attempt, and is also higher than the 10-20 percent
of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults who report ever
attempting suicide.”
Respondents who experienced rejection by family and
friends, discrimination, victimization, or violence had
elevated prevalence of suicide attempts, such as those
who experienced the following:
—
Family chose not to speak/spend time with them: 57%
—
Discrimination, victimization, or violence at school,
at work, and when accessing health care
Harassed or bullied at school (any level): 50-54%
Experienced discrimination or harassment at
work: 50-59%
Doctor or health care provider refused to treat
them: 60%
Suffered physical or sexual violence:
—
At work: 64-65%
—
At school (any level): 63-78%
—
Discrimination, victimization, or violence by law
enforcement
Disrespected or harassed by law enforcement
officers: 57-61%
Suffered physical or sexual violence: By law
enforcement officers: 60-70
—
Experienced homelessness: 69%
The whole point of today’s post is to hopefully open an eye (or two) at how important it is for transgender (and LGBTQ) individuals to have support from their family and those around them. You don’t have to approve of this lifestyle, you don’t have to understand it…and you don’t have to like it. But the next time you see someone you already know that is or are introduced to someone new…take a moment to think about how you will treat them.
Are you going to be the supporter or the bully?
Below is a video that I found, created by transgender youth parents. I highly recommend checking it out!