Letter: A first look at transgender youth data for North Dakota

North Dakota Youth Danger Conduct Survey information, for 2021, was launched earlier this yr and is the primary time we’ve requested about or have been in a position to gather information on transgender college students. Whereas we lengthy suspected these youth have been struggling, we now have an correct glimpse into their life.

In keeping with the survey information 3.7% of our highschool youth determine as transgender or are questioning their gender id. If we apply this quantity to whole faculty populations then we get roughly 4,318 gender various college students inside North Dakota. We have now roughly 20,086 whole LGBTQ+ college students inside our North Dakota faculty system by the info. These statistics are in keeping with nationwide survey information and different native state information, and factors to a minimum of one in six youth figuring out as LGBTQ+.

The info present solely 10% of trans center schoolers and 5% of trans excessive schoolers will discuss to their mother and father in the event that they really feel unhappy, empty, hopeless or offended. They’re roughly 10 occasions extra prone to run away, be deserted, or kicked out. About 3 in 4 have been swore at by their mother and father, as many have been combating psychological well being, they usually disproportionately expertise suicidality. They’re additionally getting disproportionately bullied at college, turning to unlawful substances, experiencing sexual violence, lacking faculty on account of feeling unsafe, and carrying weapons for defense.

These youth are experiencing the impacts of hostile local weather and minority stress by means of focused bullying, discriminatory legislative efforts, non secular intolerance, and parental rejection. The sparse help constructions and neighborhood alternatives that exist are sometimes focused by hostile native and nationwide influencers. Harassment techniques that embody weaponizing phrases like groomer, attacking faculty boards, spreading misinformation, and threatening to fireplace or minimize funding to entities working to assist these youth have remoted and devastated trans youth all through this state. Anti-trans hate teams have began concentrating on hospitals and lately one in Chicago went into lockdown after a bomb menace.

Whereas the world is a scary place, there are data-driven options to offer these youth hope: sturdy anti-bullying insurance policies, LGBTQ+ illustration in lecture rooms, affirming and accepting youth for who they’re, coaching and having affirming workers and administration, utilizing most popular pronouns and identify, and LGBTQ+ help teams in class. We typically hear that this kind of intervention will confuse youngsters, however YRBS information exhibits 99% perceive gender id and 95% perceive sexual orientation, it could be the adults who’re confused on how any of this works.

The actual fact is, these youngsters simply exist. And when adults try to hurt or erase LGBTQ+ youth by means of laws, bullying at dwelling, or in communities, we’re that rather more prone to lose them. When these youth are meaningfully included in faculties, revered, see constructive illustration of comfortable and profitable queer adults, and so forth – they really feel secure and see a future for themselves. That’s what we must always attempt for for all of our youth. When you’d prefer to assist in suicide prevention efforts for LGBTQ+ youth, please e mail at

fayeseidler@gmail.com

Faye Seidler, Moorhead, is Group Uplift Program’s venture supervisor for Harbor Well being Initiative.