Tuesday marks National Coming Out Day for LGBTQ+ community
NEW YORK -- On this National Coming Out Day, there have been celebrations, demonstrations, and efforts to pass legislation.
Among those most in need within the LGBTQ+ community is transgender youth, CBS2's Kevin Rincon reported Tuesday.
The LGBTQ+ community has long pushed for equality, but not everyone within that community has gotten the same level of attention.
Transgender youth have been marginalized.
"I had students identifying as bisexual, as gender non-conforming, at the age of 12, 11," state Sen. Jabari Brisport said.
Brisport was once a middle school teacher. He says help starts at home.
"Parents, if you have a queer youth, we need you to be doing everything you can to make sure they can find their way," Brisport said.
He stood alongside several lawmakers in support of legislation that would make New York a safe haven for transgender youth and families.
"This is driven by science. It should not be driven by politics," state Sen. Brad Hoylman said.
CLICK HERE for a closer look at the bill.
His legislation would ensure kids can't be separated from their parents for helping them access gender-affirming care.
That's now the fear in other states. Texas, for example, has started investigating gender-affirming care as child abuse.
"There are thousands of trans youth and their families around the country who are struggling right now, who are facing discrimination, who are facing persecution for simply living their lives," said Shear Avory, community organizer for New Pride Agenda NYC.
Efforts in other states singling out transgender youth care has largely focused on body modification that medical experts say are rare, if ever, performed on children.
"No, of course it's not a time for surgeries or hormone therapies, or even puberty blockers at that point, but it can also be a time to be supportive of someone exploring their gender identity," said Dr. Andrew Goodman at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center.
He said that support often starts with just listening.
The legislative effort rolled out on this National Coming Out Day will be up for debate in Albany at the start of the new year.
