A disturbing trend looms over the LGBTQ+ community: the political scapegoating of transgender youth.
Jack Kavanaugh is executive director of GLYS WNY.
In 2024 alone, over 520 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced across the U.S., with 70 laws passed targeting transgender and nonbinary youth by reducing access to safe and affirming spaces and providers. This political maneuvering not only undermines the rights of transgender individuals but also endangers their physical and mental health.
The 2024 LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health Survey by the Trevor Project revealed alarming statistics: 39% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year, with that number rising to 46% among transgender and nonbinary youth. Ninety percent of LGBTQ+ young people said their well-being was negatively impacted due to recent politics. Additionally, only 54% of transgender and non-binary young people found their school to be gender-affirming, but those who did reported lower rates of attempting suicide.
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As New York State proposes codifying existing protections through Proposal One, anti-trans rhetoric has intensified. Opponents argue that the amendment would undermine traditional values and threaten parental control over children’s education and health care. This narrative distorts the realities that transgender New Yorkers face, framing their rights as a societal risk and deepening stigma.
Additionally, the recent Supreme Court decision allowing a Colorado business owner to refuse service to same-sex couples reinforces the damaging narrative that discrimination is permissible. Such rulings continue to embolden further anti-LGBTQ legislation, creating an environment where discrimination becomes normalized.
At GLYS WNY, our staff works with LGBTQ+ youth, their family members and other professionals to ensure safe homes, safe schools and safe communities to help young people thrive and combat the rising rates of depression and suicide.
We offer a free drop-in center for LGBTQ+ youth every Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. where teens can engage with peers and youth mentors in a safe, affirming space. We also offer a support group twice a month for youth and their parents and caregivers. These sessions – promoting positive self-esteem, self-advocacy and leadership skills – help LGBTQ+ youth connect with the larger community – a community that must come together to protect young people in the face of anti-LGTBQ rhetoric.
Many of the young people we serve feel frustrated – they feel ignored and dismissed by politicians and society. They are not being given a voice, but rather publicly scapegoated on a national and local level by leaders who claim to care for them.
As a society, we must reject the use of transgender youth as political pawns. Their lives are not bargaining chips; they are young individuals deserving of support, acceptance and the opportunity to thrive. It is crucial for our community to ensure the rights and mental health of all youth are protected.
Who are we, as a society, if we are unable to stand up to protect the most vulnerable youth among us?
Jack Kavanaugh is executive director of GLYS WNY.
