Trans news this week

Any of us working with queer and trans people should have a working understanding of the state and national climate because it’s impacting the health of everyone we work with. Here’s a roundup:

• Ohio Department of Health pulls back original rules for transgender adults after significant resistance from transgender people and their allies:

Press Statement: Equality Ohio Responds to Revised ODH and OMHAS Rules by DeWine Administration

• Trans people and their allies stage a ‘die in’ at DMVs across Florida in protest of an executive order preventing people from being able to obtain correct drivers licenses

• This week, the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey released its initial data:

“The U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS) was administered online in English and Spanish, and open to binary and nonbinary transgender people aged 16 and older residing in the United States, a U.S. territory, or a U.S. military base overseas. The survey instrument included questions covering a wide range of experiences and issues, such as those related to health care, employment, education, housing, and public accommodations. Findings represent the overall findings for each topic examined, presented as weighted percentages. Results are only reported for respondents aged 18 and older, except as noted for findings that also include 16- and 17-year-olds. Findings presented in figures and tables may not always add up to 100% due to rounding.” (source: https://ustranssurvey.org/project-overview/)

This survey provides important context for any provider working with the trans/gender diverse community, and should be utilized as a way to counter misinformation and bias.

Read an overview about the survey and results here, and download the early insights report here.

• Response to Pamela Paul’s anti-trans opinion piece in the New York Times

Pamela Paul is a New York Times opinion writer with a particular ‘focus’ on the transgender community. This week, the Times published a long form opinion piece written by Paul. You’d be forgiven, after reading it, if you wondered why the paper of record would give so much space to naked transphobia. But, as Pamela Paul reassured us in a follow up piece, she’s not transphobic, she just has a lot of questions! Questions like, are transgender people real? Why should we believe them? Wouldn’t it be better, instead of affirming therapy, if we engaged in ‘gender exploratory’ therapy, ideally exploration that continues until a client realizes they are cisgender?

Very consciously we are not linking to the original piece, but if you’re looking for a very high quality take down that can be used with clients, families or other stakeholders, please check out trans journalist Erin Reed’s response: Debunked: Misleading NYT Anti-Trans Article By Pamela Paul Relies On Pseudoscience.

Thank you for keeping up with the news in this post and thanks for your support of trans and nonbinary folks!