Children's Rights’ Post

🚨As a nation, we are failing transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse (TNGD) youth, who call for community services that promote family health, increase acceptance, and keep youth from entering child welfare, juvenile legal, and homelessness systems. The newly released report, Safe Havens II, underscores the importance of accountability to ensure the safety and well-being of TNGD youth by centering the voices of seven TNGD youth contributors with lived experience in out-of-home systems. Created by Lambda Legal, Unicorn Solutions, Children’s Rights, and the Center for the Study of Social Policy, this report serves as a crucial roadmap for policymakers and allies, features data on current policy and challenges for TNGD youth in out-of-home systems, as well as the experiences of and solutions from our youth contributors. We can all play a role in advocating for accountability, affirmation, and support. Learn how you can make a difference at safehavensreport.org #SafeHavens #ProtectTransYouth #SystemAccountability #TransRights #EqualityForAll #LGBTQYouth #YouthAdvocacy #PolicyChange #LGBTQRights #LGBTQ #SocialJustice

Listen to Kayden, Tyler, Jaxsyn, Shawn, and Gina describe their experiences as trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse youth in out-of-home systems navigating their individual social and medical transitions. While they faced varying levels of support and access, one thing was clear: the systems meant to protect and support them often fell short. Their experiences highlight the significant gaps and the unique needs of TGND young people that are frequently overlooked. That’s why we, along with our partners at Children's Rights, the Center for the Study of Social Policy, and Unicorn Solutions, created Safe Havens II. This upcoming report exposes the troubling lack of laws and policies to support LGBTQ+ youth in today’s fraught environment and includes recommendations and insights from seven young adult contributors with lived experience in child welfare, juvenile legal, and homelessness systems. Visit safehavensreport.org to hear more from our youth contributors — and stay tuned for the launch of Safe Havens II happening next week! #SafeHavens #ProtectTransYouth #SystemAccountability #TransRights #EqualityForAll #LGBTQYouth #YouthAdvocacy #PolicyChange #LGBTQRights #LGBTQ #SocialJustice

What We Know About LGBTQ+ Children & Youth in Foster Care Historically, the needs of LGBTQ+ youth in child welfare systems have mostly not been addressed or, worse, have been invisible to those charged with caring for them. Caregivers who have provided LGBTQ+-affirming living environments have often been deemed to be enabling of this "deviance," and children have been removed from their homes as a result. Firsthand accounts have underpinned the historical understanding of the issues and the experiences faced by LGBTQ+ youth in child welfare systems. These historical accounts provide insight into social workers' discriminatory attitudes and beliefs in seeing LGBTQ+ youth as "deviant" or sinful. These stigmatizing beliefs and the subsequent administrative actions punished caregivers for being open about their identities and beliefs. Such practices led to the marginalization of this population based on exclusionary placement practices. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eVk8vtSh #youth #helpkids #fostercare #yatom #vulnerable #kidsatrisk #lgbtq #lgbtqia #lgbtqrights #lgbtqright #lgbtqrightspride #LGBTQRightsAreHumanRights #lgbtqrightsarehumanrights

📢 LGBTQ+ youth deserve to be supported and affirmed in their homes and communities. Too often, however, transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse (TNGD) youth and their families lack access to support that promotes their healthy identity development, which has led to disproportionate involvement in child welfare, juvenile legal, and homelessness systems. As documented in our Safe Havens II report, there are currently 46 states with no explicit policies that protect youth experiencing homelessness from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. As a nation, we are failing TNGD youth, who call for community services that promote family health, increase acceptance, and keep youth from entering out-of-home systems. Safe Havens II provides a vital roadmap for policymakers and allies to address the gaps in care for this vulnerable community. Along with national data and policy information, Safe Havens II features insights and recommendations from Emilio, Gina, Jaxsyn, Shawn, Kayden, Paris, and Tyler, seven TNGD youth contributors with lived experience in foster care and other out-of-home placements. With 46 states still failing to protect these vulnerable youth, it's time for action. Dive into their stories and understand the urgent need to protect TNGD youth in out-of-home placements with Safe Havens II ➡️ safehavensreport.org #SafeHavens #ProtectTransYouth #SystemAccountability #TransRights #EqualityForAll #LGBTQYouth #YouthAdvocacy #PolicyChange #LGBTQRights #LGBTQ #SocialJustice

Nonbinary youth deserve affirming and supportive systems, services, and programs—including housing—that respect their nonbinary identities. Often programs and living arrangements in child welfare, juvenile legal and youth homelessness systems are sex-segregated and organized based on a gender binary. As more young people feel comfortable embracing their nonbinary identities, they confront numerous challenges in accessing programs and services that recognize, affirm, and respect their identities. We must do better to protect nonbinary young people, starting with creating supportive and affirming programs, policies, and systems that do not rely on an antiquated gender binary. https://loom.ly/gqaSDMk #economicjustice #healthjustice #familyautonomy #racialjustice #childwelfare #familysupport #family #mentalhealth #community #familylove #parentingsupport #communitysupport #mentalhealthawareness #youthlgbt #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #gay

LGBTQ+ children and teens are 2.5 times more likely to be placed in the foster care system than their peers, but only five states require foster homes to respect children’s and teens’ gender identity and sexual orientation. To promote the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ young people in the child welfare system, lawmakers must advance and ensure accountability to gender- and sexual orientation-affirming policies. Learn more: https://loom.ly/gqaSDMk #CSSP5for2025 #economicjustice #healthjustice #familyautonomy #racialjustice #childwelfare #familysupport #family #mentalhealth #community #familylove #parentingsupport #communitysupport #mentalhealthawareness #youthlgbt #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #gay #pride #trans #lesbian #lgbtyouth #bi #transgender #lgbtqia #lgbtinformation #lgbtqrepresentation #lgbtqresources #lgbtcommunity #youth

Child welfare systems must do better to support and affirm the intersectional identities of LGBTQ+ young people who are in foster care by ensuring placement in affirming homes and access to affirming resources. Studies estimate that 30% of young people in foster care identify as LGBTQ+. In one study, nearly 20% of youth in out-of-home care identifying as LGB were moved from their first placement at the request of their caregiver or foster family. Higher numbers of placement changes, lack of access to affirming services contribute to negative mental health outcomes and poor well-being. We owe LGBTQ+ young people safe and stable placements with caregivers that honor and respect their intersecting identities. Adopted from foster care at two, one young person told us about coming out to her foster family when she was 14. Immediately after coming out, her foster mother began prohibiting her from participating in age-appropriate activities. Learn more: https://loom.ly/K-_KbU8 #economicjustice #healthjustice #familyautonomy #racialjustice #childwelfare #familysupport #family #mentalhealth #community #familylove #parentingsupport #communitysupport #mentalhealthawareness #youthlgbt #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #gay #pride #trans #lesbian #lgbtyouth #bi #transgender #lgbtqia #lgbtinformation #lgbtqrepresentation #lgbtqresources #lgbtcommunity #youth

Concerns are rising among parents in California regarding new legislation that prevents schools from notifying them about their children's social gender transitions. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gqR-X_KV #TheEpochTimes #California #ParentalRights #GenderTransition #Education #AB1955 #FamilyRights #SchoolPolicy #LGBTQ+ #ParentsVoices #ChildWelfare

Sweden has passed a new law that would make it easier for young people to change their legal gender. Previously, people in Sweden needed to be 18 to change their legal gender. But on Wednesday, April 17, the parliament passed a law lowering the age to 16. Under the new law, people will no longer need to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria – when people feel distressed because their sex at birth and their gender identity don’t match. They can now just have a shorter consultation with a doctor or psychologist and get approval from the National Board of Health and Welfare. People under 18 will still require the approval of a guardian, a doctor and the National Board of Health and Welfare. The new law will come into effect in July 2025. #gender #lgbtq #lgbtrights #sweden #news

Louisiana’s Act 466, which bans the provision of necessary, evidence-based medical care for trans youth, is causing significant harm to transgender young people in Louisiana like 17-year-old Koen. The law, which took effect on January 1, prohibits gender-affirming medical care for minors, including hormone treatment and puberty blockers. Lambda Legal recently filed a lawsuit against Louisiana state officials to stop the harm caused by the ban. These laws are not only discriminatory but also fail to consider the positive impact gender-affirming medical care has on the health and wellbeing of transgender youth who need it. Read more to understand the devastating effects of this ban on trans and nonbinary youth. Visit https://shorturl.at/adoJ6. 💔🏥🏳️⚧️ #TransRights #AntiDiscrimination #LGBTQ #LambdaLegal #TransYouth