As more bills are proposed in states like SD, FL, and SC that can produce negative health outcomes for LGBTQ young people, especially transgender and non-binary youth, The Trevor Project has been actively working to counter misinformation with medical evidence. In particular, the South Dakota bill (HB 1057) would criminalize medical care for any transgender patient under the age of 18, even when such care is deemed medically necessary and has the consent of the patient’s parents.
“This dangerous bill threatens responsible medical professionals with imprisonment for providing best-practice medical care to transgender youth. It cannot be allowed to become law. The research is clear: supporting transgender and non-binary youth in their identities has positive mental health outcomes and decreases suicide risk. Cutting off access to medically necessary care will cost lives.”
—Dr. Alexis Chavez, Medical Director for The Trevor Project
Read our op-ed by Trevor’s Medical Director »
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