Community Alert: Side by Side Calls for Visibile Support of Transgender Youth

Side by Side calls on our community to publicly support transgender youth in wake of Supreme Court action.

Monday, March 6, 2017

Today the US Supreme Court announced that they are sending Gavin Grimm's case back to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to be reconsidered in light of the Trump Administration's decision to rescind guidelines on how Title IX protects the rights of transgender youth. While this decision is disappointing, it does not change how Title IX currently protects transgender youth, according to our friends at the ACLU. Side by Side will continue to support Gavin and all the Side by Side youth in Virginia.

"The Supreme Court's action is the latest set-back for transgender rights in 2017, leaving many transgender youth looking for support from their communities," said Ted Lewis, Side by Side Executive Director.

Side by Side has seen an increase in youth seeking support in the past three years, along with a spike in youth experiencing varying degrees of acute crisis. According to a recent study by the National Center for Transgender Equality, 40% of transgender adults have attempted suicide and 92% of those who attempted did so before their 25th birthday.

Side by Side is encouraging affirming educators, caring parents and family members, and allied adults as well as youth to check in on the transgender youth in their lives and offer your support. Additionally, we are encouraging our Side by Side family to utilize their social media and share out this image below to publicly show that you support transgender youth in our community.

"We can't change the Supreme Court's decision, but we can continue to show support to the transgender youth in our communities across the commonwealth," said Lewis. "That visible support is needed now more than ever."

Click here to visit the Friends of Side by Side Facebook page and share your support for transgender youth in Virginia.

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