Down but not defeated: Clinicians can harness the power of policy for LGBTQ+ rights

The legal and medical rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) and other gender and sexual minority (GSM) youth are under attack in the United States. Approximately 160 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were proposed across the United States during the 2021 legislative session, with 70% of states considering at least one anti-LGBTQ+ bill. Over one hundred of the proposed bills specifically target transgender youth and have already resulted in the prohibition of nearly 85,000 13-17-year-old trans youth from participating in sports as their affirmed gender. Such legislation directly impacts the health of youth including in Arkansas and Tennessee which passed bills that limit youth access to evidenced-based, gender-affirming care; in February 2022, the governor of Texas directed state agencies to investigate gender-affirming care for trans youths as 'child abuse'. Despite these anti-LGBTQ+ proposed and passed laws, 22 states have full non-discrimination protections for LQBTQ+ individuals, and 24 states have laws that protect LGBTQ+ students from bullying on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Civil rights policies have the power to grant protections to LGBTQ+ youth under the law. Conversely, the rollback of those liberties may lead to irreparable harm and preventable deaths. The consequences of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation can additionally deleteriously affect local and state economies as companies and organizations move to supportive communities. Clinicians can, and should, play an important role to engage stakeholders and advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusive policies at the institutional, local, state, and national policy level.