On February 22, 2022, Governor Greg Abbott defined “gender-affirming care” as “child abuse” under Texas Family Code Sec. 261.001(1)(A)-(D) and issued an order for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to investigate these instances of “child abuse.” This order effectively criminalizes any gender-affirming care, preventing families from seeking said care and licensed professionals from providing it. Although the Honorable Judge Amy Clark Meachum issued a temporary injunction to these investigations on March 11, families trying to keep their transgender and nonbinary children safe are already feeling the impact. Many say they have been encouraged to leave the state, but more than half of Americans cannot afford even a $1,000 emergency expense, much less an interstate move. Even if they have the means, parents should never be forced into a situation to decide between their child’s safety and uprooting the family from their community. 

Texas is one of several examples of recent anti-trans and anti-queer legislation denying individuals the right to exist in their authentic gender and sexual identity. Similar bills have been passed or are under consideration in Arizona, Indiana, Tennessee, Kansas, Kentucky, Utah, Alaska, Idaho, and New Hampshire. In Florida, the Parental Rights in Education Bill – better known as the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill – seeks to outlaw all discussions on LGBTQIA+ content in kindergarten through third grade and restrict discussions in other grade levels to content deemed “appropriate.” It also requires educators to inform parents about LGBTQIA+ youth’s identities, “outing” the student even without their consent. This bill has passed in the Florida House (February 24) and Senate (March 8) and currently awaiting Governor DeSantis’ signature.

Last year, the Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association (APAMSA) released a statement of solidarity with the trans community and a call to action following anti-trans legislation in Arkansas and other states. Not even one year later, new anti-trans and anti-queer legislation continue to target a vulnerable population. Withholding or delaying gender-affirming care can lead to significant psychosocial distress and is not a neutral option. Nearly 1 in 5 LGBTQ youth and 1 in 3 trans or nonbinary youth attempt suicide in a given year, with discrimination – both individual and political – as a strong risk factor. 

In contrast, studies show that gender-affirming care can reduce emotional distress, improve their sense of well-being and reduce the risk of suicide. Numerous professional societies, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Endocrine Society, espouse the efficacy of gender-affirming care for trans youth and adults.

The effects of anti-trans and anti-queer legislation are also felt keenly in our AANHPI communities. The Trevor Project, a non-profit addressing suicide prevention in LGBTQ youth, alone cared for approximately 9,000 AAPI LGBTQ individuals in 2020. Compounded by cultural and religious stigmas against discussing sex and sexuality, AANHPI youth are significantly less likely to disclose their LGBTQIA+ identity to their parents than the youth of other racial/ethnic backgrounds. They are also much more likely to experience feelings of isolation in predominantly white LGBTQIA+ spaces. 

Because anti-trans and anti-queer legislation like those in Texas and Florida particularly harm LGBTQIA+ youth, including those of AANHPI identity, APAMSA stands firmly against these discriminatory bills. We also support in solidarity with the Medical Student Pride Alliance (MSPA) and the broader LGBTQIA+ community.

As part of APAMSA’s mission to promote the health of the AANHPI community, we urge our members to take action in support of our LGBTQIA+ friends, colleagues, and patients. At our institutions, we can advocate for education on gender-affirming care and increased recruitment and retention of trans and gender-diverse students and faculty. In research, we can investigate understudied issues at the intersection of AANHPI and LGBTQIA+ identities. On a policy level, we can push for local, regional, and federal policies that recognize trans rights as human rights. We must also acknowledge that the ongoing injustice and discrimination against trans and nonbinary individuals do not exist in a vacuum; it coincides with numerous attempts to restrict access to abortion care and discussion of race and racism in schools. 

APAMSA reaffirms its opposition to discriminatory policies that undermine the health of marginalized individuals in AANHPI communities and beyond.

In solidarity,

Your APAMSA National Board