Health Disparities Facing Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth Are Not Inevitable

Shumer claims that health disparities among transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) youth are not inevitable. He cites a population-based data from 9th- and 11th-graders that highlight the poorer self-perceived heath status of TGNC youth. The National Transgender Discrimination Survey revealed disparities in mental health outcomes, including an increase in the risk of negative mental health outcomes in transgender youth, including depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt. Shumer calls for the desperate need of solutions to bridge the gap and eliminate these disparities, which require a clear understanding of the at-risk population.