Family Matters: Exposure to Gender-Affirming or Gender-Denying Practices Following Gender Identity Milestones

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between gender identity milestones, family support, and exposure to gender-affirming or gender-denying practices. Leveraging a retrospective panel from the 2015 US Transgender Survey, we compare changes in exposure to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and conversion therapy among transgender youth who initiate gender identity milestones and those who initiate a year later–stratified by level of family support. Results indicate that transgender youth initiating milestones in supportive families have increased access to HRT and are shielded from conversion therapy, whereas children in unsupportive families have limited access to HRT and are more exposed to conversion therapy.