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Follow the science about gender identity, not the campaign against people who are transgender - The Boston Globe

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  Published in Science and Technology on Monday, October 13th 2025 at 7:26 GMT by The Boston Globe
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Transgender Youth in Rhode Island: Bullying, Health, and the Call for Protective Policies

The Boston Globe’s recent commentary, “Transgender Identity, Bullying, and Health in Rhode Island,” brings renewed focus to a growing crisis affecting the state’s transgender youth. Drawing on data from the Rhode Island Department of Health, local school district reports, and interviews with educators, parents, and medical professionals, the piece argues that unchecked bullying and a lack of comprehensive health support systems are eroding the well‑being of young people who identify outside the gender binary.

The commentary opens with a stark statistic: a 2024 survey of Rhode Island high schools found that 38% of transgender students reported being bullied at least once in the past month. The article contrasts this figure with the 15% bullying rate among cisgender students, underscoring a significant disparity that has spurred advocacy groups to push for stricter anti‑bullying policies. “The data tell a clear story,” writes the piece, citing the Rhode Island Department of Education’s annual safety audit.

Central to the narrative is the story of 16‑year‑old Maya (name changed for privacy), a transgender student at Providence High School who has experienced both verbal harassment and physical intimidation. Maya recounts how her classmates would shout “You’re not a boy,” and how the school’s counseling office was reluctant to provide gender‑affirming resources. Her case serves as a microcosm of a broader pattern: transgender youth in Rhode Island often face hostile school climates that fail to protect them from harassment or to facilitate access to medical care.

The commentary highlights a recent legislative effort, the Rhode Island Transgender Equality Act of 2025, which seeks to codify protections for transgender and non‑binary students in schools. The Act would require school districts to adopt comprehensive anti‑bullying policies, provide mandatory training for staff on gender diversity, and allow students to use preferred names and pronouns in all school documents. While the bill has garnered bipartisan support, opponents argue that it could infringe upon religious freedoms. The Globe article presents both perspectives, quoting state representative Dr. Linda Kim, a pro‑bill advocate, and Reverend Matthew O’Connor, a conservative voice concerned about “overreaching” government mandates.

Health implications of bullying are a key theme. A pediatrician from the Rhode Island Hospital’s Family Practice Clinic explains that bullying can precipitate depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among transgender youth. In fact, a 2023 study by the Rhode Island Department of Health found that transgender teens were twice as likely to report suicidal thoughts compared to their cisgender peers. The commentary underscores the necessity of school‑based health services that include mental health support and access to gender‑affirming hormone therapy for those who qualify. It notes that currently only one of the state’s eight public schools has an on‑site mental health professional trained to support LGBTQ+ students.

The piece also points readers to a partnership between the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Center for Transgender Health, an initiative launched in 2024 to provide telehealth consultations for transgender youth in rural areas. This collaboration aims to bridge gaps in care by offering virtual appointments with endocrinologists and psychologists familiar with gender‑affirming protocols. A link included in the article leads to the Center’s website, which lists resources such as a directory of local clinics and a 24‑hour crisis hotline.

Beyond policy, the commentary emphasizes the role of parents and caregivers. A mother of two transgender children describes her journey in navigating school policies and medical referrals. She stresses the importance of community support groups, which the article cites as providing vital peer networks for both parents and students. The Globe links to the local chapter of the Human Rights Campaign’s parent‑support program, highlighting its quarterly workshops on navigating school and health systems.

In closing, the Globe’s commentary calls for a multi‑layered strategy: robust anti‑bullying legislation, comprehensive training for educators, expanded health services tailored to transgender youth, and community engagement to create safe, affirming environments. The piece ends on an urgent note: “If we fail to act now, we are leaving a generation of transgender students to face isolation, violence, and untreated mental health crises.” The article urges readers to support the Rhode Island Transgender Equality Act and to advocate for the resources that will protect the health and dignity of all students.