The enactment of laws against transgender people in the United States has increased the risk of suicide among young people. This is what a study based on interviews with more than 60,000 trans people aged 13 to 24 in all 50 American states says.
In recent years, the number of legislations that seek to restrict the rights of the trans population has grown — both in the USA and in Brazil. Some laws prohibit discussions about gender identity in the classroom, while others prohibit trans people from accessing bathrooms, sporting competitions and health services.
Now, research published in the academic journal Nature Human Behavior sheds light on the effects of this legislative offensive on the mental health of members of one of the most marginalized segments of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The study, released at the end of September, identified that the approval of state anti-trans laws in the US increased suicide attempts among transgender and non-binary youth by up to 72%. The effects were most acute among adolescents aged 13 to 17.
“Our analysis demonstrates a clear association between the enactment of anti-trans laws and increased rates of suicide attempts among transgender and non-binary youth in the states analyzed,” says Ronita Nath, vice president of Research at The Trevor Project, an NGO that works for preventing suicide among LGBTQIA+ people in the USA. The authors of the research are members of the entity.
“This finding indicates that exposure to anti-trans laws has a negative impact on the mental health of transgender and non-binary youth, leading to an increase in suicide attempts, regardless of the base rates in any specific state,” it states.
In states where anti-trans laws have advanced more intensively, such as Texas and Florida, there are reports of families moving to other parts of the country in order to protect their children from discrimination.
Attacks on the trans population also became an issue in the US elections. According to The New York Times, the Republican Party campaign spent more than US$65 million (approximately R$370 million) on television ads with anti-trans content.
In Brazil, there are at least 77 municipal and state anti-trans laws in 18 states, according to a survey by the Sheet published in January. More than a third came into force last year.
Proponents of these laws deny that they are anti-trans in nature, stating that they help protect the rights of children and women and safeguard religious freedom. On the other hand, experts say that these norms promote the institutionalization of transphobia.
“Anti-trans policies prevent access to citizenship, humanity and dignity”, says Vincent Pereira Goulart, PhD candidate in Social and Institutional Psychology at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. “By being understood as enemies, trans people end up isolated and marginalized. “
According to Goulart, suicide attempts among trans people are related to family abandonment and lack of access to basic rights. “Suicide prevention is about undermining poverty, providing dignified living conditions, quality health and education, housing, decent work and access to citizenship,” he says.
WHERE TO SEEK SERVICE?
Psychosocial Care Network
Map shows the units in the network enabled by the Ministry of Health until September 2020
Mental Health Map
Website maps different types of service: www.mapasaudemental.com.br
CVV (Center for the Valuation of Life)
Volunteers answer free calls 24 hours a day on number 188: www.cvv.org.br
