Protect trans kids

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There has been a longstanding political campaign that depicts trans people as predators. This narrative has been responsible for generations of harm and violence.

The prejudice against transgender people is often perpetuated through misinformation.

“As my friend Julian puts it, only half winkingly: 'God blessed me by making me transsexual for the same reason God made wheat but not bread and fruit but not wine, so that humanity might share in the act of creation.'” ― Daniel Mallory Ortberg

This toolkit includes:

1. Myths & Misconceptions

2. Terms

3. Interviews

4. History

5. Care Resources

6. Action Steps

Myths & Misconceptions

Myth: Most people will end up regretting their gender affirming surgery.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8099405/ - This systematic review gathered data from a total of 27 studies, which studied 7,928 patients who had gender affirming surgery. Only 1% of patients regretted their surgery, an incredibly low number compared to other major surgeries (knee replacement surgery has a regret rate of 15%).

https://transhealthproject.org/resources/medical-organization-statements/ - This page shows statements from 30 leading medical organizations in the United States (representing over 1.3 million doctors) that recognize the medical necessity of treatments for transgender people, endorsing gender affirming treatments.

Myth: Trans people do not experience systemic violence.

https://www.hcplive.com/view/mortality-rate-higher-transgender-people - Using data compiled from the last 5 decades, this analysis shows transgender individuals have a significantly higher mortality rate when compared to cis men and women.

Myth: Gender affirming care is not beneficial for children who express gender dysphoria.

https://www.hcplive.com/view/suicide-risk-reduces-73-transgender-nonbinary-youths-gender-affirming-care - This article explains that transgender youths have high rates of poor mental health compared to their cisgender peers, but suicide risk is decreased by 73% for transgender youth who receive gender affirming care.

https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/14054/Study-Transgender-teens-at-higher-risk-of-violence?autologincheck=redirected - This study shows that transgender teenagers are at higher risk of sexual assault, bullying, violence, and suicide compared to their cisgender peers.

Myth: Children who haven’t reached puberty do not have a fully developed sense of their own gender identity.

Understanding Transgender Identity Development in Childhood and Adolescence - A scientific overview of gender identity development in childhood and adolescence. Research shows that, on average, children’s sense of their own gender develops between the ages of three and five.

Terms

Two Spirit - A term and concept used by created by Native Americans to describe a Natived American person who embodies both masculine and feminine qualities. They encompass a spiritual and gender identity outside the binary understanding of male and female.

https://www.pointofpride.org/blog/what-does-it-mean-to-identify-as-two-spirit

Interviews

- Author and Indigenous elder Ma-Nee Chacaby talks about Two Spirit identities. "Two Spirit" is an English term that describes Indigenous North Americans who embody both masculine and feminine energies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juzpocOX5ik 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XNLtBcYu8Q - This is a beautiful video interview from 1937 with a transgender man.

History

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/how-historians-are-documenting-lives-of-transgender-people - This article offers a short lesson about transgender people throughout history with beautiful photographs.

Care Resouces

https://pflag.org/ - PFLAG is the nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. They have community networks throughout the United States and an easy way to find local support.

https://pflag.org/find-resources/#my-loved-one-is-transgender - Read through these guidance articles that offer guidance on how to support a loved one who is transgender, finding resources as a transgender person, mental health resources, etc.

Action Steps

https://pflag.org/resource/medical-bans/ - Work against transphobic medical bans.

https://5calls.org/issue/transgender-lgbtq-rights-trump-eo/ - This website makes it simple, easy, and fast to contact your representatives. After inputting your zip code, it gives you the contacts for your house and senate representatives. This links in particular shows you how to "Oppose Efforts to Dehumanize Transgender and LGBTQ+ People."

https://indivisible.org/groups | Indivisible is a movement of more than a million members taking consistent action to resist the GOPs agenda, elect local champions, and fight for progressive policies. Input your zipcode and find groups near you to join!

https://resist.bot/ | Resistbot is a chatbot that turns your texts into faxes, postal mail, or emails to your representatives in minutes.

MoveOn is a community of grassroots activits around the country mobilizing for progressive change. The website shows multiple ways to get involved, including a map that shows upcoming events.

If there is a resource you would like to see included here, please fill out the contact form or email me at brookeangellcreative@gmail.com <3