---
title: "Scientific Evidence Supports Lifesaving Health Care for Transgender Youth, Researchers Say"
date: 2023-03-29T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/scientific-evidence-supports-lifesaving-health-care-for-transgender-youth-researchers-say"
section: Articles
---
# Scientific Evidence Supports Lifesaving Health Care for Transgender Youth, Researchers Say

*March 29, 2023* — by [Kelly Blake](/author/kelly-blake)


> UMD Public Health Experts Co-author Policy Brief in Favor of Gender-Affirming Medical Care

*23087282163008 1920x1080 — Protesters rally outside the Texas state capitol on Monday to decry anti-transgender bills progressing through the state legislature. In a new policy brief, UMD public health researchers say such measures ignore established science and put transgender youth at risk.*

Since January, lawmakers in more than 30 U.S. states have proposed or enacted legislation to ban or criminalize gender-affirming medical care for adolescents and young adults. A new [policy brief](https://www.aamchealthjustice.org/news/policy/gamc-trans-youth), which includes two researchers with the University of Maryland School of Public Health as co-authors, argues that policies that limit access to gender-affirming care ignore scientific evidence and pose a grave threat to the mental health, well-being and futures of transgender youth.

Major medical bodies including the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Medical Association have recognized gender-affirming care as necessary, said Jessica Fish, assistant professor of family science, deputy director for research and evaluation with UMD’s Prevention Research Center and one of nine co-authors of the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Center for Health Justice policy brief.

“For the youth who cannot access gender-affirming care, it can create incredible psychological distress, as well as for the caregivers,” said Fish.


*Map of transgender youth (ages 13-17) population estimates and anti-GAMC legislation introduced or enacted in the 2023 legislative session.*



**Sidebar note:**

[Register](https://aamc-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IckQkMkwSR-0aAjv0Xv6pw) for a webinar at 11 a.m. on April 5 hosted by the AAMC Center for Health Justice, featuring policy and clinical care experts who will discuss the current landscape of anti-transgender legislation and providing facts about gender-affirming medical care.





**Topics:** [Research](https://today.umd.edu/tags/research)


**Tags:** [Family Science](https://today.umd.edu/topic/family-science), [LGBTQ](https://today.umd.edu/topic/lgbtq), [Research](https://today.umd.edu/topic/research)


**Units:** [School of Public Health](https://today.umd.edu/topic/school-public-health)