Recent hate speech and anti-trans legislative efforts in Canada and the United States are B次元官网网址渁larming and are causing great harm,B次元官网网址� says the B.C. representative for children and youth.
In her latest report, B次元官网网址淭he Right to Thrive: An Urgent Call to Recognize, Respect and Nurture Two Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary and other Gender Diverse Children and Youth,B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址渆normous, and they are paying the price in increased critical injuries and suicidality.B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址渨hat rescued me and saved me.B次元官网网址�
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, B次元官网网址渨ho are doing consistently less well on many measures than their cisgender peers,B次元官网网址� 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 itB次元官网网址檚 a B次元官网网址渄eeply troubling finding,B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 not the childB次元官网网址檚 gender identity or expression that leads to self-harm or suicidality.
B次元官网网址淩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.
B次元官网网址淲hen this happens, we are failing them, and this must change.B次元官网网址�
Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of injuries reported to the representative were for those placed in group homes, which are government-funded settings B次元官网网址渢hat may cause further harm and trauma when they fail to provide gender-affirming care.B次元官网网址�
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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