What’s in a name you may ask? Frankly, everything.
The name we are given at birth may be that of a relative that we want to honor, be that of one of our parents, or gender specific. It is our identity. A name is what makes us unique and feel more than just a spec in a world of more than 7.4 billion people.
At one point in time we have all been called out of our name by someone as a way to get under our skin or attack our masculinity or femininity. When that happened, how did that feel? Did it make you question how others see you? Did you feel insecure or cause you to question your identity?
Now imagine that this happens on a daily basis from friends, family, and everyone that you meet. The pressure that you feel to conform or being forced to identify in a manner that you do not feel comfortable with can be overwhelming and harmful to your health. This is a daily reality for transgender youth who do not have safe space that allows them to identify by the name of their choosing.
A study from the Journal of Adolescent Health released last month, shows why it is important to foster safe environments for LGBTQ+ youth, especially when it comes to chosen names. In the study 129 transgender youth between the ages of 15 and 21 were interviewed in three cities from different geographic regions (Northeast, Southwest, and West Coast) of the country. The youth were asked about their chosen name use, suicidal thinking and behavior, depressive systems, and if they were able to use their chosen name with friends, family, at school, or work. The findings show that if a transgender youth is able to use their chosen name throughout their life their mental health improves. Those who were able to use their chosen name with friends, family, at school and work were found to have a reduction in suicidal thoughts and behavior.
The findings from the aforementioned study are particularly important considering just last year another study of transgender youth in California from the Journal of the Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry found that transgender students are at significant risks of suicidal thoughts. Data from students all across the state of California was examined and revealed that 34% of the transgender respondents reported experiencing suicidal thoughts in the past year, compared to 19% of non-transgender respondents. While, this percentage difference may not seem like a large number because the study only looked at one state, it is one we should definitely be concerned about. California is the largest state in the union and gives us great insight into the mental health of transgender youth across the country.
If allowing a transgender youth to identify with their chosen name can reduce the risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts, then we are taking steps in the right direction. Additionally, Denny David, Deputy Director at LYRIC, a LGBTQ+ Youth Center in San Francisco, believes that, “too often, young people who go by a name other than the one assigned to them at birth are viewed as the ‘problem’… going by a name that reflects your identity is never the problem. Systems that do not see and acknowledge a young person’s identity are the problem.”
Individually and as a community we need to protect and provide our transgender and LGBTQ+ youth with safe spaces and environments where they are free to be who they are and identify as they choose. Allowing these youth to identify by the name of their choosing, cost us nothing, but means everything to them. And that is what’s in a name – the health and well-being of transgender youth.
Blog was originally posted at: http://safespacenova.org/whats-in-a-name-everything/
