Recent hate speech and anti-trans legislative efforts in Canada and the United States are 害羞草研究所渁larming and are causing great harm,害羞草研究所� says the B.C. representative for children and youth.
In her latest report, 害羞草研究所淭he Right to Thrive: An Urgent Call to Recognize, Respect and Nurture Two Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary and other Gender Diverse Children and Youth,害羞草研究所� Jennifer Charlesworth is calling on the provincial government and respective ministries to work together to make this a priority.
Released Thursday (June 22), the report includes eight recommendations, including urging the attorney general to enhance legislation and regulatory protections for gender-diverse children to address disinformation and discrimination.
Charlesworth said the negative impacts of recent hate speech and anti-trans legislative efforts on children and youth are 害羞草研究所渆normous, and they are paying the price in increased critical injuries and suicidality.害羞草研究所� Suicidality is the risk of suicide, usually by ideation or intent.
Interviewed for the report, one person says that people think being trans is a mental problem, when, on the contrary, their identity is 害羞草研究所渨hat rescued me and saved me.害羞草研究所�
The Office of the Representative for Children and Youth received a review of critical injury and death reports for two-spirit, non-binary, trans and gender-diverse youth that raised serious concerns about the experiences and outcomes for youth, 害羞草研究所渨ho are doing consistently less well on many measures than their cisgender peers,害羞草研究所� notes a release.
It adds that 44 per cent of gender-diverse youth receiving government services report injuries associated with suicidality and self-harm, compared to 14 per cent of cis-male and 22 per cent of cis-female counterparts.
Charlesworth added that while it害羞草研究所檚 a 害羞草研究所渄eeply troubling finding,害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 not the child害羞草研究所檚 gender identity or expression that leads to self-harm or suicidality.
害羞草研究所淩ather, it is the individual experiences they have and the climate in which they are growing up that are compounded by the negative effects of stigma. Far too often, young people face a lack of gender-affirming care, support, and awareness from health care providers and society.
害羞草研究所淲hen this happens, we are failing them, and this must change.害羞草研究所�
Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of injuries reported to the representative were for those placed in group homes, which are government-funded settings 害羞草研究所渢hat may cause further harm and trauma when they fail to provide gender-affirming care.害羞草研究所�
Other recommendations in the report include: that the Health Ministry take lead responsibility for a cross-government commitment to gender-affirming car; that the Mental Health and Addictions Ministry review mental health and substance-use needs of gender-diverse children and their families; and that the Children and Family Development Ministry ensure group homes have policies and training specific to the provision of gender-affirming care.
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