A Teen's Death Sparks Conversation About Anti-Trans Laws

Gender affirming care is essential to saving lives

Source: Image by Boris Štromar from Pixabay

A non-binary teen died in Oklahoma earlier this month following a physical altercation in a bathroom at their school. The family of 16-year-old Nex Benedict says they had been bullied by their peers due to their gender identity in the days and months leading up to the altercation. While the cause of death has yet to be determined, many LGBTQ organizations are calling for further investigation, and claiming that this incident could be related to an increase in fear-mongering and discrimination in the current political climate that may be creating an unsafe environment for many queer and trans people.

Recent legislation plays a part

Research shows that transgender students face an elevated risk of being subjected to bullying behaviors at school, especially those students who are non-binary (Heino et al., 2021; McCay et al., 2019). This risk of violence is even greater in a climate of moral panic and discomfort with queer identities. This has led many LGBTQ+ people, especially trans and nonbinary individuals, to live in fear.

These events are happening at both the state and federal levels. According to American Civil Liberties Union data, more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced last year across state legislatures—a three-fold increase from the previous year (CNN.com).

In 2023, "37 bills were introduced at the federal level across categories like healthcare, student athletics, the military, incarceration, and education" (TransLegislation.com). This trend is continuing as we round out the second month of 2024.

But it is not only the number of the bills that is shocking, but the extremity of their content. There are bills legislating the forced outing of trans kids by requiring teachers or healthcare workers to inform the parents if kids are overheard using different names or pronouns (CNN.com). Such bills not only invade the privacy of trans kids but can put their safety at risk. Forcing a Queer or trans person to out themselves, especially a young person who is at the mercy of caregivers who may or may not be accepting or safe threatens their safety.

A moral panic creates a dangerous environment for anyone deemed different

With the increase in anti-LGBTQ, and specifically anti-trans, legislation in recent months, trans individuals, especially kids, are most at risk. Kids like Nex, who are only trying to exist, are at risk of bullying, physical attacks, or worse — all because of who they are. We know that trans and gender-diverse people are four times more likely to experience physical violence and even death than their cisgender peers (Flores et al., 2021). A national crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth has seen a 500% increase in calls placed from the state of Oklahoma, Nex's home state (CNN.com). LGBTQ+ hotlines around the country have seen similar increases, highlighting the fear and worry among so many.

Many of my colleagues report that their LGBTQ+ clients have recently shown drastic increases in mental health symptoms of anxiety and depression, their symptoms likely stemming from the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness that so many feel due to the new legislation. I notice the same: Every week, my clients share fears of laws that are "reducing our rights to exist," as one client put it earlier this year.

It is known that Queer and trans people suffer from higher rates of mental health symptoms than their straight/cis peers (Moagi et al., 2021). However, many argue that this is likely due to their experiences of living as an LGBTQ person in an environment that does not support them. Living in fear of one's own or a loved one's safety understandably affects mental stability.

When laws exist that criminalize their existence and the healthcare they need, it sends the message that their life is not valuable. If a child cannot receive support from their school or their healthcare providers, this leaves limited spaces for them to be safe. All of these factors contribute to research showing that schools can be an unsafe place for LGBTQ+ kids (Kosciw et al., 2018).

The increase in anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ legislation not only paves the way for increased discrimination against LGBTQ individuals, but promotes a sense of panic in the public eye, dictating who is and who is not allowed to feel safe.

Gender-affirming care is essential to survival

Gender-affirming medical treatment has been backed by major medical associations across the country, including the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (GLADD, 2023). Yet we continue to see legislation passed that gives more weight and credibility to issues of "morality" and religious belief than to the lived experience of trans and Queer people, as well as that of the many medical and mental-health professionals who support their care. This creates a moral panic that breeds discrimination and hatred.

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Nex's story is just one of many, but many hope that their death might help to open a much-needed conversation about how to best protect trans and gender diverse youth.