The political push to marginalize and discriminate against LGBTQ+ students may be a reckless attempt by lawmakers to win political points with their core constituency, but it has real-life consequences for thousands of youth across the state.”

Andi Young, co-chair of the GLSEN Phoenix Board of Directors

My name is Andi Young and I am a co-chair of the GLSEN Phoenix Board of Directors. GLSEN Phoenix is a local chapter of a national non-profit organization that believes that every student has the right to a safe, supportive, and LGBTQ-inclusive K-12 education.

More importantly, I am also a mom to a transgender adolescent that receives gender-affirming medical care.

This session of the Arizona Legislature has seen the introduction of a shocking number of anti-trans, anti-LGBTQ+, and anti-student bills in both the House and Senate.

Since January, GLSEN Phoenix has been working to mobilize and organize citizens looking to speak out against these measures. Along with our sibling organizations at ACLU of Arizona, Equality Arizona, Arizona Trans Youth and Parent Organization (AZTYPO), HRC Arizona, Southern Arizona Gender Alliance, Arizona Trans Alliance and other organizations, we have called attention to discriminatory bills that, if passed, would profoundly harm LGBTQ students in Arizona schools.

So many discriminatory bills were introduced that we had to make a spreadsheet to keep track of them all. These bills ranged from House Bill 2314, which would prevent trans youth from using school bathrooms, changing facilities, and “sleeping quarters” appropriate to their gender, to Senate Bill 1165, which would ban trans students from playing on a sports team aligned with their gender identity.

Thankfully, because of the testimony and work of citizens around the state, most of these bills either never made it to committee or were voted down. We are still concerned about SB 1138, which was passed by the Senate and would prohibit gender-affirming health care for minors, as well as HB 2161, which would require teachers to out LGBTQ+ students. Both of these bills have passed their chamber and will be up for a vote soon, bringing them closer to the governor’s desk.

As the mother of a transgender child, I am particularly alarmed by the number of bills attacking transgender students. SB 1138 hits particularly close to home, as I have witnessed the life-saving benefits of gender-affirming medical care firsthand.

We first noticed my child’s declining mental health around puberty. Our once happy, confident kid was withdrawn, depressed, unable to make friends at school, and spending hours in their room by themselves.

We tried everything — therapy, support groups, and several psychiatric medications. Nothing worked. At one point my child began experiencing panic attacks that were so frequent and severe that they missed the last three weeks of 8th grade. We were faced with the possibility that our straight-A honor student would possibly not graduate junior high.

We were desperate for help, so I made an appointment with a pediatric doctor who specializes in working with transgender youth. In line with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations, our doctor suggested we begin gender-affirming medical treatment to reduce my child’s gender dysphoria and improve their mental health.

It was not a decision we or our medical provider took lightly. He encouraged us to do our own research, which we did. He required us to wait a minimum of two months before making a decision. He also required a written recommendation from my child’s therapist in order to proceed.

After weighing the risks and benefits, my husband and I decided gender-affirming medical care was the right decision for our child. Since starting gender affirming medical care five months ago, we have seen a tremendous improvement in my child’s mental health.

They have returned to in-person school, taking mostly honor level classes with very few absences. They have joined the drama club and made new friends. They have gone from weekly therapy sessions to every other week. Most importantly, they no longer hate themselves.

If passed, SB 1138 would prevent parents and trusted medical providers from providing life-saving gender-affirming medical care to transgender youth who desperately need it. It takes medical decisions out of the hands of parents and medical professionals and places it in the hands of government officials. I am terrified of what will happen to my child if they are now denied this care that is so obviously critical to their well-being.

The political push to marginalize and discriminate against LGBTQ+ students may be a reckless attempt by lawmakers to win political points with their core constituency, but it has real-life consequences for thousands of youth across the state.

At GLSEN Phoenix, we are working with school communities, including students, educators, and parents, to create an evidence-based LGBTQ+ inclusive school climate. This includes LGBTQ-affirming curriculum, where students can learn about themselves and others, protective policies that are fairly implemented, and GSA student clubs in schools, where students can meet with their peers and discuss the challenges and joys of their daily lives as LGTBQ+ youth and allies.

According to GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey, attending a school with an inclusive curriculum, which includes affirming books, is related to a less-hostile school experience for LGBTQ+ students as well as increased feelings of connectedness to their school communities. Despite these benefits, the vast majority of LGBTQ+ students do not have access to an inclusive curriculum or affirming books, something we’re trying to address through our Rainbow Library initiative.

We will continue to work towards a more open and inclusive Arizona, and while it is discouraging to see the kinds of bills we have seen this year, we are heartened to know that so many citizens are willing to take up the cause and fight for the rights of all Arizonans, and a more inclusive world.

For more information about GLSEN Phoenix and our advocacy, please visit glsenphoenix.org.

Editor’s Note: Andi Young is a co-chair of the GLSEN Phoenix Board of Directors.