To foster a healthier future for all Americans, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2030This ambitious and important plan outlines a key goal: “Build a healthier future for all.”
However, recent legislation has changed “all” to “all except LGBTQ,” making it impossible for HHS to achieve its goal.
At its core, Healthy People 2030 outlines data-driven national goals across five key social determinants of health: access to and quality of health care, access to and quality of education, social and community conditions, economic stability, and neighborhoods and built environments.
These goals aim to create a society in which everyone can live a healthy life, but state laws are at odds. 522 bills will be introduced in 2024 alone — Severely restricting access to programs for certain populations, particularly gay, lesbian, and transgender people. These measures pose significant barriers to their health and well-being.
This legislation, with its focus on transgender individuals, could impact all five social determinants of health. Here’s how it works:
- Providing access to comprehensive, quality health care servicesResearch highlights urgent need Addressing health disparities Several bills have been introduced to expand insurance coverage for related health care needs, including to sexual and gender minority groups. However, recent bills, such as Mississippi’s 2023 bill, HB1125targeting health care for transgender youth could widen this gap. 105,200 transgender youth About one-third of transgender youth in the United States live in states that prohibit access to gender-affirming medical care. Of those who visited a health care provider in the past 12 months, Nearly half (48%) reported experiencing at least one negative event. They have been denied medical care because they are transgender, have been misgendered, have been subjected to harsh and abusive language from medical providers, and have suffered physical violence and abuse during treatment.
- Increasing educational opportunities and helping children succeed in schoolThe 2023 legislative session introduced new laws and policies that don’t help all young people succeed in school. Gender and sexually diverse students face unique challenges in K-12 schools. Policies that restrict classroom discussion of certain sexual topics, commonly referred to as “don’t say gay” laws, have been passed in states such as: Florida, Iowa and ArkansasLaws that promote silence, exclusion and shaming of students regarding their sexual orientation and gender expression worsen the mental health of sexual and gender minority young people, depressionThese issues Affects academic achievement and school engagementproducing even worse results.
- Strengthening social and community support. up to now, Four States Laws have been passed that assert that there are only two human genders: male and female. This contributes to a hostile social and community environment, where transgender and non-binary people often struggle with social acceptance. The passage of these laws positions them as less than human, rendering non-binary and transgender people invisible and excluding them as valuable and meaningful members of society. Research shows that news about anti-transgender laws and perceived support for such laws negatively impact transgender youth and young adults, some of whom: Physical health problems, depression, and fear of revealing one’s identity. In addition, Nearly one in three sexual minority youth They report that these policies and laws make their mental health worse most or all of the time.
- Helping people have a stable income that allows them to meet their health needs. the current, 12 percent Seventy percent of LGBTQ people live in states that have no policies prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. At the federal level, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in employment, and in June 2020, the Supreme Court Expanded it Sexual orientation and gender identity must be included. 16 states and 2 territories It has not approved this extension or added any additional protections. State level Law. Research shows that LGBTQ youth Adjusting career plans to address identity challenges at workThis creates labor market segregation and economic disparities between LGBTQ and other workers. Research shows that bisexual women and transgender people: Rising poverty rates than people of their generation.
- Creating communities and environments that promote health and safety. in Mississippi and Utah, Laws target restroom access and use, creating physical and structural environments that further marginalize transgender people. The rise of such policies has violenceThis also leads to a sense of safety. the studyTransgender and gender non-conforming young people who feel insecure in public restrooms are significantly less resilient and have a lower quality of life, and experience higher levels of stigma and problematic anxiety. This sets them on a path that negatively impacts their future mental and physical health. In general, transgender people who experience discrimination while using public restrooms: Suicide attempts and suicideFurthermore, the interpersonal stigma they experience in public places Your health will deteriorate.
It’s 2024, and the clock is ticking. We can make progress toward achieving Healthy People 2030’s bold, comprehensive plan to improve health and well-being across America. But first we need to stop passing laws that get in the way.
Maria Valenti is Educational Development CenterIt is a global nonprofit organization that strives to improve education, promote health and expand economic opportunity.
