CW: This post discusses proposed anti-trans laws in the United States.
I connected with Lily Cunningham, M.Ed., LPCC-S, on Twitter. As you may have noticed, I take my ethical commitments seriously, especially when laws try to force me to contradict my ethics code. And you may have noticed that many states have been pushing for laws that would harm the trans community.
Lily practices in Ohio, where HB 454 aims to ban gender-affirming care. She is testifying about why this law is harmful and asking her state government not to pass it. (More information on gender-affirming care and the science behind it is available here. The short version is, gender affirming care improves mental health outcomes and significantly reduces suicide. As with many things, early intervention has the greatest impact on outcomes. Check out these studies to learn more.)
You can view Lily’s presentation here. If your state is pushing for this kind of law, use this as a template for speaking against it.
In the meantime, keep up with the news in your area. Call your reps. Tell them to stop making it illegal for us to do our jobs ethically.