Executive Summary
The legal landscape for transgender youth shifted significantly in 2023. Nearly 500 pieces of legislation restricting the rights of LGBTQ people were introduced in state legislatures this year. Over half of these bills specifically targeted transgender youth. Although most of these bills did not pass, state legislatures enacted new laws that impact transgender youth across the country in a variety of ways.
At the same time, a number of states moved toward creating a more supportive and accepting environment for transgender youth. In these states, legislatures and governors enacted laws and policies that support access to health care and ban harmful practices.
This report estimates the number of transgender youth ages 13-17 who are impacted by five types of laws and policies that gained traction across several states in 2023. These laws and policies include those that restrict the rights of transgender youth—gender-affirming care bans, bans on sports participation, and bathroom bans—and those that support transgender youth—gender-affirming care “shield” laws and conversion therapy bans.
Key Findings
- 105,200 transgender youth—about one-third of transgender youth in the U.S.—live in states that ban access to gender-affirming care.
- 92,700 transgender youth ages 13-17 live in states that passed laws banning access to gender-affirming care in 2023.
- 26,000 transgender youth live in states with gender-affirming care bans that cannot currently be enforced due to court orders.
- 101,500 transgender youth—about one-third of transgender youth in the U.S.— live in states that restrict access to school sports for transgender students.
- 14,200 transgender youth ages 13-17 live in states that passed laws restricting access to school sports for transgender students in 2023.
- 11,100 transgender youth live in four states with sports participation bans that cannot currently be enforced due to court orders.
- 32,700 transgender youth live in states that ban transgender students from using school bathrooms and other facilities that align with their gender identity.
- 23,600 transgender youth ages 13-17 live in states that passed laws banning transgender students from using school bathrooms and other facilities that align with their gender identity in 2023.
- 146,700 transgender youth—about half of transgender youth in the U.S.—live in states with gender-affirming care “shield” laws.
- 88,000 transgender youth ages 13-17 live in states that passed gender-affirming care “shield” laws in 2023.
- 198,000 transgender youth—about two-thirds of transgender youth in the U.S.—live in states with conversion therapy bans.
- 21,800 transgender youth ages 13-17 live in states that passed conversion therapy bans in 2023.