I find it essential to address the current issues surrounding the privileges of the transgender community in our position as a doctor and social employee committed to the well-being of all Utahns.
New legislative actions, including Gov. The SB 16 filing by Spencer Cox represents a loss for Utah’s efforts to promote inclusivity and highlights the ongoing problems faced by transgender people.
On November 20, as the International Transgender Day of Remembrance draws near, we must recognize the valuable and vulnerable lives of those in our community who face discrimination, intimidation, and violence the most. We must work to preserve equal rights for all, regardless of gender identity, in the pursuit of a fair and just community.
The way to equal rights and protections for trans Utahns is far from finished, despite Utah’s significant advancements in advancing diversity and LGBTQ+ rights, including the outlawing of the dangerous process of transformation therapy for minors. In many spheres, including career, education, health care, and housing, transgender people experience widespread bias and shame. Trans people are frequently exposed to violence and hate acts as a result of insufficient constitutional protections. Routine bias increases stress levels, which exacerbate mental health discrepancies in the community, and it is frequently difficult to obtain gender-affirming care, including sex accepting methods.
The basic right to exist is at the core of the battle for transgender rights. Each person has the right to fully participate in public life without fear of harassment, crime, or even dying, as well as the freedom to express their gender identity. Between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023, 320 transgender and gender-dividend people were reportedly murdered worldwide. The vast majority of victims ( 94 % ) were trans or transgender people, and the overwhelming majority ( 80 % ) were Black.
Crime can also be used internally. More than 50 % of transgender and non-binary youth in the United States have recently considered suicide really, according to a recent national survey by The Trevor Project. Transgender kids report higher levels of abuse of violence, substance usage, and suicide risk than their cispender counterparts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
Transgender children in Utah are particularly at risk for experiencing homelessness and community rejection. By funding programs that build safe areas in schools, giving families resources, and advocating for laws that shield trans children from discrimination, the condition can have a significant impact.
Gov. Cox’s enactment of SB 16 into law, which limits the delivery of gender-affirming care to transgender individuals under the age of 18, represents a troubling loss for trans rights in the position and prompts serious worries about the welfare of transgendered youth. Current criticisms of gender-affirming treatment run counter to the overwhelming evidence that they are crucial. Every reputable health firm promotes age-appropriate gender-affirming care for transgender and non-binary people, representing more than 1.3 million doctors in the United States. According to a recent study, trans children who have access to gender-affirming hormone therapy have lower rates of depression and are less likely to commit suicide, underscoring the life-saving potential of this type of treatment and its potential to improve the mental health of transgend people.
As a therapist, I am aware of the potential harm caused by information and laws that minimize the lives of trans people. I have vowed to provide this vulnerable people by offering visible coaching services, support groups, and crisis treatment for transgender people experiencing discrimination or violence in the community as both a committed member of the LGBTQ+ community and an expert in emotional health.
Yet, there is still more that each of us can do.
By advocating for congressional changes that specifically protect the rights of transgender people within the state, we while Utahns must fight against legislation that endangers the health, safety, and wellbeing of this special population. The battle for trans rights in Utah is far from over, and all Utahns must work together to oppose discriminatory laws and advance knowledge.
Let’s continue to speak out for those who are affected in the face of hardship, foster a healthy social climate for transgender youth, educate ourselves and others about these issues, and push for an equitable and sympathetic Utah.
Alice Tara Olson
Alice Tara Olson is a mental health provider living in Salt Lake City. She is a master of social work graduate student at the University of Utah.
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