LGBTQ+ Affirmation

Transgender mental health, drag, and affirmations for hard times

This past week we heard news that Tennessee passed its anti-drag bill which bans public drag shows. With similar bills being introduced to legislatures across most of the US South, I feel extra concern these days for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly the transgender community. Ignorantly misguided politicians making laws that harm the mental health of trans & non-binary folks is alarming. Knowing this, we must think critically about policy that explicitly oppresses gender expression, and gender-affirming care. According to a recent study from the Stanford School of Medicine, we know that trans teenagers who began hormone therapy earlier were less likely to:

1) Experience suicidal ideation (SI)

2) Substance use disorders (SUDs)

3) Experience major mental health disorders

If you’d like more information on the US trans community, click here to check out reports from the US Trans Survey. The last reporting period was in 2015, with their 2022 survey closing last December. As social workers, it is our responsibility to abide by the social work code of ethics. We are bound to treat clients with dignity and see the worth of the person. My values bind me to provide evidence-based care without discrimination to our trans and non-binary clients. Reflect upon or journal this: how are you advocating for the LGBTQ+ community? Or, how do you want to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community?

Here are some Trans-affirming affirmations to help uplift you:

• Education is the cure to transphobia

• I am allowed to be my authentic self

• My trans body is beautiful

• My dysphoria is not me

• I am safe in my non-binary body

• As I understand my transness deeper, I invite others to understand me more deeply

• I am supported on my transition journey