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The transgender community in the United States is facing a cultural war, but also a political one, by implementing laws that go against their rights and that put their health and their families at risk, forcing them to change their residence in search of a better life.
Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, a nonprofit that advocates for the civil rights and protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer residents of Florida, expressed concern about the laws that transgender people face, in particular, the prohibition of medical care for transgender youth and children because it puts their lives at risk, and where if care is provided, the doctor is criminalized.
In response to this, he called for unity in society during a press conference organized by Ethnic Media Services, where she stressed that "that is the real problem, we are fighting against the definition of freedom, we are fighting against the definition of democracy and we all have a role here, you don't have to know a transgender person to be able to understand them."
For his part, Gene Wu, representative of the state of Texas, stressed that "Legislators always seek to bother small groups that do not have a large representation and that, just as they hurt the transgender community today, tomorrow they will seek to harm another group in society, so, in this situation, the only viable thing is unity and respect."
"I think it's important for people to care about these issues and say, 'I'm not transgender and I may not have transgender friends, but they have the right to live their life the way they want, consult their own doctors, consult their own families, and they have the right to do what they think is necessary to stay alive and happy. Just like I have the right to do what I think is right and take care of my own body,'" she said.
Sailor Jones, associate director of Common Cause North Carolina, said that laws against the transgender community are damaging to families and individuals, while becoming a repression of their personality, not to mention the psychological damage they cause.
«We know that most transgender and non-binary youth think that these debates around transgender issues are impacting their mental health in a negative way. We know that almost half of young people have suffered bullying on social media.»
Sailor Jones shows her concern for young people who face bullying and ridicule in their environment, which leads them to the easiest and most regrettable way out, which is suicide.
Finally, Susan Maasch, founder of the Trans Youth Equality Foundation, recalled that families supporting the transgender community face various problems.
He added that the fear of the families is due to the harsh laws that are applied, and the hatred in schools and in society. Today, hundreds of people take their cars with the bare necessities, sell their things and leave their homes in search of a better place.
In addition, medical concerns are the most common among experts. Many boys and girls decide to begin treatment for gender transformation. However, it is a delicate subject and requires a special process, so a doctor must be at the family's side to achieve success.
“Politicians have not done their homework and have not helped, and that is outrageous because there are discussions about forcing children to stop taking hormones that they have been given for a month, without understanding how complex this hormone system is, the dangers, the depression, the despair that children are going to feel, as well as being able to develop suicidal thoughts and everything that parents and politicians will go through when they decide that they cannot seek care, while doctors can be prosecuted by the prosecutor's office if they offer their support,” added Susan Maasch.
While politicians are making noise to get attention with laws that violate the rights of transgender people, American citizens are asking them to address more important issues that really affect society and are truly necessary. However, while the demands are being heard, the transgender community faces very complicated challenges.
It is worth noting that without the empathy, support and attention of governments and society, transgender youth and their families face very difficult economic and discrimination situations that end up forcing them to leave their homes or, in some cases, the most common way out is suicide.
The data indicates that 82 percent of those have thought about committing suicide, while 40 percent have attempted it.
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