THURS-056 - Advocacy Plan for Gender-affirming Care for Minors in Alabama
Thursday, April 17, 2025
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM PST
Location: Pacific I/II, 2nd Floor
Area of Responsibility: Area V: Advocacy Subcompetencies: Identify the social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental factors that impact the health and/or learning processes of the priority population(s).
Examine evidence-informed findings related to identified health issues and desired changes., 5.1.2 Examine evidence-informed findings related to identified health issues and desired changes. Research or Practice: Practice
PhD student in Health Education and Promotion The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
After this presentation, participants will be able to recognize at least 3 of the specific health disparities faced by transgender and gender-diverse minors due to the lack of gender-affirming care.
After this presentation, participants will be able to outline at least 2 actionable advocacy strategies to promote gender-affirming care and inclusivity in healthcare and educational settings.
After this presentation, participants will be able to identify key policy changes needed to improve access to gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse minors.
Brief Abstract Summary: Transgender and gender-diverse adolescents are at higher risk for mental health problems, suicide, substance abuse, and violence. Research shows that gender-affirming healthcare can mitigate these negative outcomes, enhance self-esteem, and improve overall quality of life. Gender-affirming care for minors is prohibited in Alabama, potentially leading to rejection, despair, and severe health disparities. This advocacy plan proposes policy reform to support gender-affirming care for minors in Tuscaloosa County, ensuring equitable healthcare access and a safe environment for transgender youth. It also encourages schools to implement inclusive policies and cultural competency training in healthcare settings. Successful initiatives at the local level could serve as a model for broader adoption across the state, fostering a more supportive healthcare system for gender-diverse adolescents in Alabama and therefore promoting health equity.
Detailed abstract description: Transgender and other gender-diverse adolescents face stigma and discrimination, which increases their risk of poor mental health, suicide, drug abuse, violence, hazardous sexual practices, and other health risks. Gender-affirming healthcare has been found to minimize the occurrence of negative mental health outcomes, boost self-esteem, and improve the overall quality of life in transgender and gender-diverse adolescents. Early gender-affirming treatment is critical and necessary because it allows the child or teenager who is transgender and gender-diverse to focus on social transitions and can enhance their confidence while navigating the healthcare system.
Alabama's governor signed AL SB184 in April 2022, which forbids transgender youth from obtaining gender-affirming care. Rejection, despair, suicide, homelessness, and other poor outcomes might result from a lack of gender-affirming care for gender-diverse adolescents and children. If gender-affirming care for minors in Alabama is not implemented, it is anticipated that gender-diverse minors will continue to face considerable health disparities. By permitting gender-affirming care for minors, healthcare facilities in Alabama will be authorized to provide gender-diverse minors with culturally competent and gender-affirming healthcare.
The advocacy plan that will be described in this presentation provides policy recommendations to support gender-affirming care for minors in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, to assist transgender and other gender-diverse teenagers and children in receiving equitable access to health care and a safe and supportive environment. It also proposes advocacy for schools within Tuscaloosa County to review and implement in-school policies and practices to ensure inclusivity, and transgender cultural competency training in healthcare facilities. If proven successful, advocated policies should be adopted at the state level to promote health equity among minors around the state.
