Many
people don’t understand what it means to be transgender or gender
diverse, so some parents and friends may have questions or struggle at
first. It’s critical for families to know that their words and actions
can have a profound impact on their children.
Today the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), the Biden Foundation, and Gender Spectrum launched a new campaign called “Advancing Acceptance”
to raise awareness of the importance of family and community acceptance
in the lives of transgender and gender diverse youth. The campaign
provides crucial resources for friends and family who may have
questions, be struggling with acceptance, or who are looking for ways to
support transgender or gender diverse youth.
Click here to read the exclusive story from NBC News.
For
transgender youth, sometimes a supportive family can make the
difference between a happy, healthy, thriving child—or one at greatly
elevated risk of depression, suicidal behavior and other harmful
outcomes. Research shows
that trans youth with families that support and affirm their gender are
at significantly lower risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts or risk,
depression, anxiety, or self-harming behaviors. Transgender youth with
supportive families are also much more likely to have higher self-esteem and overall health,
compared to transgender youth with unsupportive families. Community
support matters too; for example, transgender and gender diverse youth
with supportive schools, such as those with gender and sexuality
alliances (GSAs) or supportive staff and administration, have better
health and higher school attendance.
The “Advancing Acceptance” campaign includes the debut of a new ad
called “Journeys: The Berman-Ruth & Wylie Families,” which
showcases the Berman-Ruth family and their close family friends, the
Wylie family, discussing how they have supported their son, Xander, a
transgender boy, through his transition.
|
In
addition the campaign includes a new infographic, a clearinghouse of
helpful links, tips for advancing the conversation, and policy
recommendations geared toward promoting acceptance within families and
communities of transgender and gender diverse youth. Learn more at www.advancingacceptance.org.
The
Advancing Acceptance campaign encourages supporters of trans and gender
diverse youth—including LGBTQ youth, parents, siblings, educators,
social service providers, coaches, and others—to share their stories,
which will be included as part of the Biden Foundation’s “As You Are”
campaign. These stories will help highlight the critical importance of
affirming, accepting, and supporting transgender and gender diverse
young people.
