Anti-Trans Laws Linked With Spike In Suicide Attempts Among Trans Youth
A study from The Trevor Project found that in states that passed anti-trans legislation directed at minors, suicide attempts by transgender and non-binary teens went up by as much as 72% in subsequent years. Also in the news, a "sanctuary city" for transgender people, pardons for gay veterans, and more.
States that passed anti-transgender laws aimed at minors saw suicide attempts by transgender and gender nonconforming teenagers increase by as much as 72% in the following years, a new study by The Trevor Project says. The peer-reviewed study, published published Thursday in the journal Nature Human Behavior, looked at survey data from young people in 19 states, comparing rates of suicide attempts before and after bans passed. (Simmons-Duffin, 9/26)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the federal government over its requirement that states provide LGBTQ+ affirming placement for foster care youth. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, states that the rule issued by the U.S. Health and Human Services would exacerbate the foster care provider shortage by compelling states to recruit new providers that comply with the rule while costing Texas money. If it fails to implement the requirements, Texas could lose as much as $432 million in annual federal funding for its foster care program. (Moore, 9/25)
With November鈥檚 election looming and hundreds of bills threatening LGBTQ+ rights all over the U.S., one Massachusetts community is hoping to model itself as a safe haven for transgender people.聽A resolution pending before Northampton鈥檚 City Council would declare the Western Massachusetts community a sanctuary city for people who are transgender and gender diverse, encompassing individuals with identities beyond male or female. (Patkin, 9/26)
The White House claimed that 鈥渢housands鈥 of veterans could benefit when President Biden announced this summer he was issuing pardons to gay veterans who were forced out of the military because of their sexual orientation 鈥渁nd have carried the burden of this great injustice for decades.鈥 But three months later, only eight veterans have applied for pardons鈥攕ix from the Air Force, two from the Army, and none from the Coast Guard, Navy, or Marines. (Anne Marshall-Chalmers, 9/26)