LGBTQ – Page 5

Those Who Have Access To Puberty Blockers, And Those Who Don’t – Two Classes Of Trans Kids Are Emerging

4May

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

LGBTQ

Those Who Have Access To Puberty Blockers, And Those Who Don’t – Two Classes Of Trans Kids Are Emerging

For people who have never thought about it before, it might sound reasonable to require trans kids to wait until they’re adults before they can receive certain forms of care known as gender-affirming treatment – which is what legislation that just passed in Arkansas does. But this type of legislation actually prevents kids from accessing treatment before and during a crucial period of development: puberty. When I was researching my book “The Trans Generation: How Trans Kids and Their Parents are Creating a Gender Revolution,” I observed how not all trans kids can access the care they want or need during this critical stage of life. This unequal access to gender-affirming health care, which occurs across state lines and socioeconomic divides, could cause two “classes” of transgender peopl...

Is Your College Trans-Inclusive – Here’s How You Can Tell

30Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

LGBTQ

Is Your College Trans-Inclusive – Here’s How You Can Tell

High school can be especially challenging for the 2%-3% of U.S. teens who identify as transgender, or trans. They disproportionately experience harassment and victimization by their peers and rejection by family members. Entering an affirming and inclusive college environment can help set trans youth on a path of personal, academic and professional success. A trans-affirming college can also be transformative for trans students who did not feel comfortable being out in high school, as well as those who do not begin to explore their gender identity until college. My research with 507 trans and gender-nonconforming students – 75% undergraduate, 25% graduate – examined which college policies and supports trans students most valued. I also looked at how these policies created a sense of bel...

Millennials Are Coming Out And Living In Their Gender Much Earlier Than Older Trans Generations

27Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

LGBTQ

Millennials Are Coming Out And Living In Their Gender Much Earlier Than Older Trans Generations

There are a few common identity milestones that transgender, or trans, people experience across their lives. One is starting to feel different than the sex assigned to them at birth. Another is identifying with a trans identity – for instance, as a trans man or genderqueer person, meaning they don’t identify with a binary gender such as a woman or a man. There also is the experience of living in line with this identity, which can include disclosing it to others, and changes to a person’s name, pronouns and appearance. And then there’s accessing gender-affirming medical care like puberty blockers, hormones or surgeries. These milestones can happen at any age in a person’s life, despite stereotypes that trans people must have always known they were trans. Some people may not go through all...

By Conquering Their Own Fears, Following Their Child’s Lead And Tolerating Ambiguity – Parents Can Support A Child Who Comes Out As Trans

21Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

LGBTQ

By Conquering Their Own Fears, Following Their Child’s Lead And Tolerating Ambiguity – Parents Can Support A Child Who Comes Out As Trans

Young transgender, or trans, people face high rates of anxiety, depression and suicide. These elevated mental health risks largely stem from external factors such as discrimination, victimization and – most especially – family rejection rather than from being trans. Em Matsuno, a research fellow at Palo Alto University, is currently developing and testing an online training program called the Parent Support Program to help parents better understand and support trans youth. They talked with The Conversation U.S. about their findings and how parents can be better advocates – and avoid common missteps – when a child identifies as trans or nonbinary. What are common challenges parents with trans kids face? A big one is fear. Parents fear for their child’s safety. For example, they fear their ...

For LGBTQ Americans Sports Remain Hostile Territory

6Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

LGBTQ, SPORTS

For LGBTQ Americans Sports Remain Hostile Territory

For all of the gains LGBTQ people have made over the past few decades, sports remain a highly visible reminder that homophobia and transphobia persist. CC BY-ND In recent years, more professional athletes, from U.S. women’s soccer team player Tierna Davidson to Olympic gymnast Danell Leyva, have come out of the closet. However, locker rooms remain less inclusive of LGBTQ people than places like schools or workplaces. And though many sports teams and figures have publicly campaigned against homophobia and transphobia, half of LGBTQ respondents in our recent study said that they’d experienced discrimination, insults, bullying or abuse while playing, watching or talking about sports. Mistreatment doesn’t discriminate by age For the study, we surveyed 4,000 U.S. adults and asked them whether t...

Offering A Chance For Community To Stand In Solidarity And Support – Trans Day Of Visibility

29Mar

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LGBTQ

Offering A Chance For Community To Stand In Solidarity And Support – Trans Day Of Visibility

Visibility within the transgender community is often a Catch-22, especially for trans people of color, or those living in rural, conservative areas. Hiding one’s identity can be a damaging experience and increase feelings of isolation, stigma and shame. But standing out as a trans person can make someone a target for discrimination or violence. As a trans man who studies transgender health and well-being, I believe Trans Day of Visibility – celebrated annually on March 31 – is an important day that allows community members to come together and find support and solidarity by knowing they are not alone. A celebration’s history Trans Day of Visibility acknowledges the contributions made by people within the transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse communities (hereafter referred to as “tran...

5Mar

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

LGBTQ

Why Some LGBTQ Americans Prefer Rural Life To Urban ‘Gayborhoods’

Pop portrayals of LGBTQ Americans tend to feature urban gay life, from Ru Paul’s “Drag Race” and “Queer Eye” and “Pose.” But not all gay people live in cities. Demographers estimate that 15% to 20% of the United States’ total LGBTQ population – between 2.9 million and 3.8 million people – live in rural areas. These millions of understudied LGBTQ residents of rural America are the subject of my latest academic research project. Since 2015 I have conducted interviews with 40 rural LGBTQ people and analyzed various survey data sets to understand the rural gay experience. My study results, now under peer review for publication in an academic journal, found that many LGBTQ people in rural areas view their sexual identity substantially differently from their urban counterparts – and question ...