1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

Transgender and non-binary youth face exceptionally high rates of suicide risk and attempts. According to research by The Trevor Project, 53% of transgender and non-binary youth have seriously contemplated suicide in the past year, and around 1 in 5 have attempted suicide. Affirming a trans young person's identity is associated with lower rates of attempting suicide. These vulnerable young people deserve to have their identities respected and affirmed, not erased or denied. The Trump administration's attempt to combat "gender ideology" and the unconstitutional executive order to define gender as simply "man" or "woman" would deny recognition and access to care, exacerbating the already severe mental health crisis faced by this population. We must take action to stop these harmful policies and protect transgender and non-binary youth.