Healthcare Resources for Transgender Youth

By Lifespan Faith Engagement

Access to healthcare is a sacred right we care so deeply about as Unitarian Universalists. One of the sacred and life-saving forms of care that is currently under legislative attack is the access to gender-affirming care for our transgender, nonbinary, and intersex youth and adults.

Some of us may have questions or be asked questions by folks in their congregations or lives. This is a resource to offer some more scientifically validated information about this practice of care, universally accepted by legitimate medical associations.

We understand that some of us benefit from summaries and brief snippets, while others thrive in the deep data pools. We have gathered various resources to give you access to information. And, know, we remain available for conversations to help process and understand on a deeper level.

General Information

Transition-related health care for transgender people and youth is supported by every major medical association and leading health authority. Efforts to ban and criminalize this care are not based in medical or scientific expertise, and frequently spread misinformation about what the care is. Included are facts to inform the public and media about the safety and efficacy of this essential health care.

These resources introduce readers to the basics of GAC for TGD youth. It outlines the changes involved in social affirmation, gender-affirming medical care, and gender-affirming surgical care. In addition, it highlights the scientific research that underlies these practices as well as the positive outcomes associated with GAC for TGD youth.

Gender-affirming care is a supportive form of healthcare. It consists of an array of services that may include medical, surgical, mental health, and non-medical services for transgender and nonbinary people. In 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services published a fact sheet about gender-affirming care in young people.

In 2022, U.S. Trans Survey (USTS) published a survey of transgender people in the United States with a summary of the gender-affirming care section withhighlights of the importance of gender-affirming care and societal acceptance

The Movement Advancement Project tracks the laws affecting transgender healthcare in the United States. As of June 10, 2024, there are 25 states with laws on the books banning or restricting gender-affirming care for youth AND there are already legal challenges in 17 of those states.

Sawbones is a comedy podcast about medical history, hosted by a physician and her husband that covers some serious topics on occasion. They recorded a 45-minute episode on gender-affirming care for minors.

Resources for Congregations

  • Transforming Hearts Collective offers online training for Unitarian Universalist congregations.

  • Our Whole Lives has a series of webinars about transgender youth:

    • Meet Airlie Anderson, Author of "Neither" (YouTube)
      Author/illustrator Airlie Anderson joins Dr. Melanie Davis (UUA) and Rev. Amy Johnson (UCC) for an engaging conversation about her much-lauded pre-K book titled, "Neither." From the Amazon description: "In this colorful and touching story that celebrates what makes each of us unique, a little creature that's not quite a bird and not quite a bunny—it's "neither"—searches for a place to fit in...This story promotes diversity and offers a valuable lesson to the youngest of audiences: it is our differences that unite us."

    • Trans Action (YouTube). With Dr. Melanie Davis and Rev. Amy Johnson and their guests share a wealth of inspiring programming and resources for trans youth, teens, families, and allies. Guests include Rev. Ashley Horan, UUA Organizing Strategy Director; Rachael Ward, UCC Team Lead and Minister for Gender and Sexuality Justice Ministries; Adrian Ballou, UUA LGBTQIA+ and Gender Justice Program Coordinator; and Rev. Yadi Martínez-Reyna, is bilingual Latinx gender non-binary artist and founder of Color Splash Out, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating safe and brave spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth and their ally friends. For many links to resources, look for the webinar title "Trans Action".

    • Addressing Anti-LGBTQ+ Initiatives(YouTube) Dr. Melanie Davis and Amy Johnson welcome Rev. Michael Crumpler, Rev. Evin Walter, Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer, and Rev. Yadi Martinez-Reyna-- all of whom are on the front lines in the UU and UCC fight for LGBTQIA+ justice. We discuss where OWL fits into national LGBTQ+ advocacy efforts. Review all of our Taking Flight Webinar.
    • Under Your Wing: OWL (Our Whole Lives) Taking Flight (YouTube), Introducing videos for parents and caregivers of children in grades K-1, including conversations and books about gender identity. Review our complete list of OWL K-1 videos.

Scholarly Resources

Evidence-Based Research Published by Respected Journals

Infographics

About the Author

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Lifespan Faith Engagement

The Lifespan Faith Engagement office of the UUA puts a justice seeking, radically inclusive faith in action by creating experiences for meaning-making and faithful living, accompanying people to make a home in our faith, and advocating for youth engagement and lifespan faith development.

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