Every day, it seems, there is a news story about yet another state passing some form of harmful, anti-trans legislation or a video of an elected official spewing hateful words about trans youth and adults.
Although DC’s elected officials have stood up for and celebrated their trans constituents, most trans residents in DC are too familiar with the rejection that these new laws signify.
At Children’s Law Center, we are grateful for our trans colleagues, our trans supporters, our trans allies and our trans clients – and all the work they do to help youth, especially in this difficult time.
Each year, we represent more than 400 youth in foster care – many in their pre-teen or teen years when they, like their peers, are exploring their identities. We have seen gaps in all the systems meant to support these children: child welfare, education, behavioral health.
While all youth in the foster care face significant barriers to stability, the barriers are often higher for trans youth:
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DC has a shortage of gender-affirming foster and group homes for trans youth, forcing frequent moves – sometimes as often as every three months.
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Going to a new home often means changing schools as well, forcing trans youth to navigate the potentially dangerous situation of coming out again and again and losing access to any support they’d had in a previous school.
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Instability at home and at school also means it is harder to access consistent, affirming behavioral health support to help address the trauma they’ve already endured and continue to face in an increasingly transphobic world.
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The trauma, instability and lack of strong support systems leave trans youth at higher risk of being trafficked, being sexually abused or experiencing homelessness.
