The Accessibility of Social Support for Transgender Youth

Within the LGBTQIA+ community, it is known that transitioning is significant to a transgender person because it helps them feel confident in their body, boosting their overall self-esteem and mental health. It is important that transgender youth have social support throughout and after the transitioning process. However, research on transgender youth is limited to the impact of sparse familial support. Due to these limitations, there is an increasing need to focus on the experiences of transgender youth. According to McConnell, Birkett, and Mustanski, transgender youth who have other forms of social support report a decrease in psychological distress (2016). To investigate the community support available to transgender youth ages 11 to 16, we will conduct a comparative survey of available resources for Transgender and Gender Non-conforming (TGNC) youth in metropolitan versus rural areas of Illinois. We are excluding Cook and the Collar Counties due to the plethora of resources available there. We choose to focus outside of the family because developing youth are heavily influenced by their peers. We will be conducting a comparative survey of other metropolitan and rural areas. Our search will consist of researching programs within the areas we defined above based on information available, youth activities, and support groups. We will note whether these services are offered without parental consent. By surveying the amount and type of community support available to TGNC youth outside Chicago, we will begin to draw conclusions about the effects of social rejection, as it relates to transitioning in this vulnerable age group