Overview
Trans and nonbinary youth have diverse experiences and identities. They may use a range of words to describe their identities and come from a variety of different backgrounds. Despite these differences, trans and nonbinary youth often share common experiences with victimization and barriers to accessing services.
Trans youth are also a target of anti-trans legislation. In 2025, many of the anti-trans bills being proposed aim to restrict trans youth’s access to gender-affirming healthcare, participation in school activities like sports, and access to bathrooms/locker rooms that align with their gender identity[1]. Additionally, some anti-trans legislation forces educators to “out” trans youth to their parents or does not allow the use of chosen names or pronouns in schools[2].
In 2023, 86% of trans and/or nonbinary youth reported anti-trans debates or laws had a negative impact on their mental health[3]. These laws have a tangible impact; “anti-transgender laws significantly increased incidents of past-year suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth by as much as 72%”[4].
Experiences with violence
Trans and nonbinary youth experience many of the same kinds of victimization as trans adults, including anti-trans discrimination, harassment, physical violence, and sexual violence. Additionally, trans youth are particularly likely to experience bullying and harassment in schools, conversion therapy, and increased suicidality.
Bullying: In 2023, 40% of transgender youth faced bullying at school in the past 12 months, compared to 20% of cisgender girls and 15% of cisgender boys[5]. Many experienced bullying both online and in person.
Child abuse/childhood sexual assault: Studies find that transgender youth experience higher rates of sexual abuse than cisgender youth do, with estimates between 20-60%[6]. A 2024 study of transgender adults found that 45% had experienced child sexual abuse.[7]
Conversion therapy: 1 in 6 transgender and nonbinary young people (16%) were threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy in the past year[8].
Suicidality: 46% of transgender and nonbinary young people considered attempting suicide in the past year, and 14% did attempt suicide[9].
Barriers to services
Lack of parental/guardian support
A 2024 study found that 92% of parents surveyed were supportive of their child’s trans identity[10]. Despite this, parents do not always support transgender youth’s access to gender-affirming medical care or services. Additionally, there are still trans youth who are rejected by their parents and do not have their support in their gender identity or accessing services. Many services require parental notification or consent, which can create a barrier for many young people.
Access to resources (transportation, money, etc.)
Many trans youth have even less access to resources than trans adults do. Access to transportation (having/not having a car, living near a bus station, having parents/guardians who can drive them) can limit where a young trans person can get services and support. Trans youth are also unlikely to have access to independent funds, which may be necessary for some services.
Services not designed for youth
Many services for trans and nonbinary victims of crime are not designed with youth in mind and may be restricted to those over the age of 18. Find out what resources are available for trans youth in your area (for example, if there are support groups specifically for youth who have experienced bullying, are those groups explicitly trans-affirming? Find out before making a referral). Otherwise, consider what services may be available even if they are not specifically designed for youth.
Key Tips for Service Providers
Understand where trans youth get information
Young trans people often grow up with access to the internet, where they may find useful information about transgender identity and transition, connections with others who share their identities, and spaces to talk about their experiences. This is also likely where they will find information about services offered to trans youth. Organizations can assess how they share information to ensure they are reaching young people. For example, an agency with an Instagram account may be more accessible to trans youth than one that only shares updates in an email newsletter.
Language is important and so is intention
Many trans youth are finding or developing unique language to describe their identities and experiences. Some of this language may have been around for decades (or longer) and is becoming increasingly common. Some of this language is new or new in the way it is used. Providers may worry about getting the language “right” or fear saying the wrong thing.
While language does matter, and making sure to address someone with the correct name and pronouns shows respect and builds trust [link to pronouns section], providers do not need to be familiar with every term used in trans communities. Instead, it’s more important to communicate a willingness to ask questions and learn. For example:
“I haven’t heard that term before. Could you tell me about what it means to you?”
“I’m out of practice with using per/pers pronouns, but I’m going to try to get it right.”
“Thanks for letting me know that the word I used didn’t feel accurate for you. What would you use instead?”
When doing this, center the client, rather than focusing on how difficult it is for you to adapt (ex: “It’s hard to keep up with all this new language. We didn’t do this pronoun stuff back in my day!”)
Asking questions and reflecting the language an individual trans/nonbinary person uses for themselves is not only critical for working with trans youth, but also for working with any trans/nonbinary person.
Honor autonomy
Also critical for working with any transgender person is honoring the client’s autonomy. This may be more limited when working with trans youth, as parents or guardians may have to give permission for certain choices (ex: seeking a legal name change, accessing puberty blockers, etc.). Whenever possible, affirm the client’s right to make their own choices, listen to what they need, and advocate for them with other adults when appropriate.
Resources
Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth is Violence Prevention (White Paper) – A FORGE white paper explaining how supporting LGBTQ+ youth helps prevent violence.
Trans Youth Sexual Assault Survivors: Skills for Advocates (WCSAP) (Webinar) – A FORGE webinar, hosted with the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, on skills for advocates supporting trans youth survivors of sexual assault.
Transgender Youth Survivors: Understanding, Serving, Celebrating (Webinar) – A FORGE webinar with the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs on understanding and serving transgender youth survivors.
Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Young People – The Trevor Project – A Trevor Project guide on how to support transgender and nonbinary young people.
Understanding Gender Identities & Pronouns – The Trevor Project – A Trevor Project article explaining gender identity terms and how to use pronouns respectfully.
Preventing Suicide Among LGBTQ+ Young People – The Trevor Project – A Trevor Project guide to recognizing warning signs and helping prevent suicide among LGBTQ+ young people.
Family Support: Resources for Families of Transgender & Gender Diverse Children – Movement Advancement Project resources for families of transgender and gender diverse children.
[1] ACLU. (2025, January 15). Mapping Attacks on LGBTQ Rights in U.S. State Legislatures in 2025 | American Civil Liberties Union. American Civil Liberties Union. https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights-2025
[2] Forced Outing of Transgender Students – Movement Advancement Project. (2026, January 13). Movement Advancement Project. https://mapresearch.org/citation/forced-outing-of-transgender-students/
[3] Issues Impacting LGBTQ Youth Polling Presentation Content Warning. (2023). https://www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Issues-Impacting-LGBTQ-Youth-MC-Poll_Public-2.pdf
[4] The Trevor Project. (2024, September 26). Anti-Transgender Laws Cause up to 72% Increase in Suicide Attempts Among Transgender and Nonbinary Youth, Study Shows. The Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/blog/anti-transgender-laws-cause-up-to-72-increase-in-suicide-attempts-among-transgender-and-nonbinary-youth-study-shows/
[5] Suarez NA, Trujillo L, McKinnon II, et al. Disparities in School Connectedness, Unstable Housing, Experiences of Violence, Mental Health, and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Transgender and Cisgender High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2023. MMWR Suppl 2024;73(Suppl-4):50–58. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su7304a6
[6] Abern, L., Diego, D., Krempasky, C., Cook, J., & Maguire, K. (2023). Prevalence of Sexual Assault in a Cohort of Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals. Journal of general internal medicine, 38(5), 1331–1333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-022-07900-y
[7] Laughney, C. I., Lee, Y. G., Paine, E. A., & Wu, E. (2024). Posttraumatic stress disorder mediating associations between child sexual abuse and substance use among transgender adults in the United States. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 95(1), 45–51. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000761
[8] The Trevor Project. (2024). 2024 U.S. national survey on the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people. The Trevor Project; The Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2024/
[9] The Trevor Project. (2024). 2024 U.S. national survey on the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people. The Trevor Project; The Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2024/
[10] Human Rights Campaign Foundation. (2024, September 30). 2024 Report on the Experiences of Parents of Transgender and Non-binary Children. HRC. https://reports.hrc.org/experiences-of-parents-of-transgender-and-non-binary-children