Gender-Affirming Care is Life-Saving

Throughout the United States, many individuals have strong opinions and biases surrounding the topic of gender-affirming healthcare. Many people contribute to misinformation about gender affirming healthcare due to their personal biases; they argue that this type of healthcare is dangerous, especially to minors, and it should be made illegal. 

However, the reality is that gender-affirming healthcare saves countless lives rather than endangering them. Gender-affirming healthcare has been statistically proven to improve the mental health of trans and non-binary individuals, so banning this healthcare would prove to have drastic consequences. Furthermore, numerous medical and psychological organizations affirm the importance of gender-affirming care in supporting the well-being of transgender and non-binary individuals.

In 2022, there were more attempts than ever to criminalize gender-affirming treatments for minors. This is most common in conservative states, such as Florida and Texas. Many people have misconceptions about how gender-affirming healthcare works due to their biases and lack of information. It is essential to clarify that gender-affirming treatments for minors involve a comprehensive and carefully considered process. Access to this care typically requires the approval of parents or guardians, the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals, and the informed consent of the minor involved.

Common treatments for minors are hormone blockers and other hormone treatments which are not permanent treatments and pose no threat to the patient. Gender-affirming surgery is rarely performed on anyone under 18 and it is safe, effective, and beneficial healthcare, but people have painted it out to be a horrible, unsafe, and mutilating procedure. The unfortunate truth is that many people believe that being trans or non-binary is a horrible and unnatural thing. 

A large number of people in the LGBTQ+ community suffer from depression and other mental illnesses. This is beacuse many LGBTQ+ people face discrimination, rejection, and harassment. The depression that can be caused by the dissatisfaction in a trans or non-binary persons own body is only worsened with the lack of this healthcare. To criminalize this healthcare would only cause suicide and depression rates within the community to increase. The majority of trans and non-binary people experience gender dysphoria, which is the distress or unhappiness caused by one’s gender identity not aligning with their sex. Gender dysphoria can be severe and debilitating. It is an extremely serious issue that can be life-threatening. Access to hormone treatments has been statistically proven to improve an individual's mental state. 

Hormone treatments have been used on cis-gender people for a long time for numerous reasons that have nothing to do with their gender identity. However, when the issue of gender comes into play, people have extreme issues with it. This clearly points to the bias that people carry. It is a selfish prospect to try to criminalize gender-affirming healthcare when people know no accurate information on the topic and their prejudice stems from personal beliefs. 

It is up to us individuals that have a voice to advocate for those being affected by these propositions and spread awareness that gender-affirming healthcare is life-saving healthcare. Get educated, be on the right side of history and fight for what you believe in.