Cabán cites federal attacks and mental health benefits of gender-affirming care
Cabán says transgender and nonbinary New Yorkers face federal threats and institutional capitulation. She cites research linking affirming care to roughly 60% lower odds of moderate to severe depression and over 70% lower odds of suicidality.
It's no secret that transgender and non-binary New Yorkers have recently faced a barrage of threats, challenges, and intimidation from the federal government.
Several institutions in our city have, unfortunately, capitulated to these pressures, and as a city,
We are all worse off for it.
Gender-affirming care not only allows individuals to live as their true selves, but it is also strongly associated with improved mental health outcomes for transgender and non-binary people.
Transgender and non-binary youth especially are disproportionately burdened by poor mental health outcomes driven by reduced social support and heightened stigma and discrimination.
Yet research consistently shows that access to gender-affirming interventions is associated with roughly 60% lower odds of moderate to severe depression and over 70% lower odds of suicidality in youth.
70% lower odds of suicidality.
We not only owe it to young transgender and non-binary New Yorkers to provide them with the care that we know can improve their lives and their mental health, but also to protect them from harm.
And at this moment, when so many trans and queer people in our city are seeing their rights being attacked and stripped away by the federal government, and watching institutions that they rely on for their health care buckle under pressure, I stand as a queer New Yorker in solidarity with you.
My commitment to you is that I will do everything in my power to work with you, to keep you safe, and to fight for our collective liberation.