“Before the nation’s focus on preventing the spread of COVID-19, we in the LGBTQ+ community had been tracking more than 200 dehumanizing and harmful state bills in 19 states. Many specifically target kids who are transgender,” said Diego M. Sanchez, APR, Director of Advocacy, Policy and Partnerships for PFLAG National. “PFLAG’s 400 chapters actively oppose these bills and lift up trans kids. Trans kids are the next fierce leaders, and it's our role to make sure they get to realize that role.”
Supporting trans kids through social media on a variety of different platforms also establishes important protective factors for these youth. This is especially relevant during covid-19 quarantines and closures that have limited access to safe spaces for transgender youth. Studies by the Family Acceptance Project, the Williams Institute and others have demonstrated that when an LGBTQ+ youth has even one trusted adult they can turn to for support their risk of attempting suicide drops by more than 40%. And when parents accept their LGBTQ+ child for who they are, their risk of self-harming behaviors decreases by more than half.
#TransKids #SoFierce is a positive way to be an ally by authentically showing support for trans kids and asking others to join, too. Early participants and supporters of #TransKids #SoFierce include songwriter Benjamin Scheuer, director T Cooper, and Samantha Williams of the song and video “I Am Samantha,” which debuts on Transgender Day of Visibility; actor Zach Barack, the first openly transgender performer in a Marvel movie, the National Association of Social Workers, and Athlete Ally.
