The Final Straw: Examining How Legal Barriers to Gender-Affirming Care Motivate Transgender Youth and Their Families to Move

Abstract

This paper aims to understand the material consequences of anti-trans laws, specifically those restricting access to gender-affirming care. In this review, framed by the psychological theories of Structural Stigma and Minority Stress, I examine the worry level and discussions about anti-trans laws of transgender youth and their parents (Goldenberg et al., 2020a; Meyer, 1995). I studied 2023 survey responses from 324 families of transgender youth from across the U.S. to understand how families are responding to anti-transgender laws and whether the laws are driving families to relocate (Gülgöz et al., 2019). Overall, worry about the laws for participants personally, for others they know, and for the transgender community in general was higher for those more at risk of losing access to gender-affirming care. Income was not a significant predictor of interest in moving, rather worry about the anti-trans laws was. Qualitative data showed high distress among families relating to these laws, a strong desire for parents to ensure their youth’s safety, and families reported discussing moving depending on if their current circumstances would continue to be safe. The data indicated palpable fear among the community. Further work should be conducted to include more of the at-risk population as well as the long-term consequences of the laws as they go into effect across the United States.