Early this year, Utah Legislature passed Senate Bill 16, devastatingly affecting adolescent transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming youth in Utah.
Senate Bill 16 bans gender-affirming care necessary for the well-being and livelihood of many LGBTQ+ youth already at risk for mental health struggles. Unfortunately, mental health is a significant concern for transgender youth, with the majority (82%) having contemplated killing themselves and 40% having attempted suicide.
Gender-affirming treatment can be a significant protective factor, with 60% lower odds of depression and 73% lower odds of suicidality for those youth who have received gender-affirming medical care.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, this bill is only one of over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ legislation proposed this year. Amidst this massive wave of hateful and harmful propositions, the mental health of LGBTQ+ individuals is a significant concern.
While cis-gender individuals may have the privilege to forget this law, many people think about it or other anti-LGBTQ+ legislation every day.
Please speak up against anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and speak to your Legislature about what they should do to protect this community. Please do not forget that LGBTQ+ people are here. We exist, and we feel the consequences of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation every day.
Kirra Jensen, Orem
