I respectfully ask you to vote NO on H.R. 2616 and H.R. 2617.

I urge you to consider the serious public health implications HR 2616 and HR 2617, and I respectfully ask you to vote NO on H.R. 2616 and H.R. 2617.  HR 2616 would require public elementary and middle schools that receive federal funds to obtain parental consent before changing a minor’s gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form or sex-based accommodations. Some children are afraid to tell their parents, fearing physical and emotional consequences at home. This is not just an ethical issue—it is a public health risk. Being involuntarily “outed” is associated with increased rates of depression, homelessness, self-harm, and suicide among LGBTQ+ youth (Kosciw et al., 2022; The Trevor Project, 2023).  Respecting students’ privacy and autonomy is essential to their mental and emotional safety, both in and outside of school settings. The “PROTECT Kids Act” will do nothing to physically and emotionally protect kids. Transgender and gender diverse children are 2-4 times more likely to be bullied, targeted for violence, and attempt suicide. Youth whose restroom/locker room use was restricted were more likely to experience sexual assault (Murchison et al., 2019). HR 2616 will lead to increases in the unacceptable rates of bullying, abuse, assault, and self-harm among these children that are already vulnerable to being targeted by their peers.     HR 2617 would prohibit schools receiving federal funds from teaching or advancing concepts that recognize the existence of transgender and gender diverse people, thereby eliminating an important avenue for conversations in the classroom, providing an opportunity for their peers to better understand gender diversity. Efforts to censor inclusive education undermine school climates that reduce harassment and improve mental health outcomes (GLSEN, 2022). H.R. 2617 poses a threat to public health by promoting top-down interference into local curricular decisions and increasing stigma and marginalization of transgender and gender diverse students.  Decades of research demonstrate that when LGBTQ+, and particularly transgender and gender diverse students, are affirmed in schools, they experience significantly better mental health, lower rates of substance use, and a reduced risk of suicide. Inclusive school policies are evidence-based public health interventions that protect young lives (Russell & Fish, 2016).   I recognize that safe and affirming schools are vital to the overall health of our nation’s youth. Policies that support LGBTQ+ students do not just reflect our values—they reflect evidence-based strategies to prevent harm, reduce health disparities, and promote lifelong well-being. We urge you to reject measures that endanger children and to support those that center safety and equity.