What is gender-affirming care?

Parents, providers, & lawmakers all over the United States are asking the question, “What is gender-affirming care?” Many of these adults have been confused by damaging myths about transgender & nonbinary children, resulting in a flood of state laws criminalizing gender-affirming care for minors. Gender-affirming care is a range of medically necessary, evidence-based social, psychological, behavioral, and medical interventions designed to support and affirm an individual’s gender identity when it conflicts with the sex they were assigned at birth. These interventions help transgender people align various aspects of their lives — biological, psychological, & social— with their authentic gender identity.  In our training, “What is Gender-Affirming Care?” we break down this framework into six premises. These include: 

• Gender variations are not disorders
• Gender is diverse and varied across cultures
• Gender is: bio-psycho-social
• Gender is not binary but fluid
• Dysphoria is not always limited to the body
• Acceptance by family & other caregivers significantly improves mental health

Access to gender-affirming hormones during adolescence has been associated with a lower odds of severe psychological distress & suicidal ideation compared to adults who do not access such care until adulthood. In a political climate full of misinformation designed to scare parents & providers, it is vital now more than ever for important adults in trans kids’ lives to have clear & scientifically accurate information about the care they need to truly thrive. We give you practical tools to support your clients’ socioemotional wellness & advocate for their needs. At Infinite Diversity, we have decades of experience supporting health care providers, mental health clinicians, government officials, child welfare workers, educators, faith leaders, & caregivers of transgender & nonbinary youth through training, research, & other consultation services. If you are interested in our “What is Gender-Affirming Care?” training, click here to request a free training consultation directly or schedule a training consultation meeting here. Trainings can be in-person or virtual–whatever works best for your organization.