Trans*

Trans* Children are our children!
Trans* Youth are our youngsters! We want them to be loved!
But are they?…….
Are they receiving the care and support they need?
In the community & in the schools,
in health care, both physical and psychological,
in the universities & in their places of work,
in their families & relationships,
in legal frameworks & in governments!

The “Let’s Change the Pace, How Are Trans* and Gender Diverse Children Doing?” project is a groundbreaking initiative to better track, understand and promote the well-being of trans* and gender diverse children.
This project brings together several organisations from different European Countries – Italy, Malta, Portugal, Serbia and Spain – working with the European Network of Parents of LGBTI+ Persons (ENP) – the umbrella organisation.

The Project

Committed to fostering more inclusive and supportive environments for children with diverse gender identity or expression, the project brought together researchers, practitioners, parents, educators and other advocates from a wide range of organizations. Its primary goal is to develop an European level understanding of the situation of trans* youth in Europe and develop a manifesto to advocate for their rights, a manifesto written by their parents. Through webinars, round tables, live conferences, focus groups and individual interviews with those involved in the lives of trans* and gender diverse children we gathered valuable information that can be used to create actionable strategies to improve the landscape for these young people around the world. The project represents an innovative approach to delivering on our societal responsibility to ensure that every child can reach their full potential regardless of who they are or where they come from.

Gender identity refers to a person’s internal, personal experience with gender, which may or may not correspond to their physiology or birth gender. It is unaffected by family and education. Some people identify as a different gender, while others identify as their birth gender, and still others are somewhere in the middle. This equates to 0.5-1.3% of the population.
Transgender people are not pathological because they have a mismatch between their birth gender and their identity.

we gathered valuable information that can be used to create actionable strategies

Transgender youth are becoming more visible. Courageous individuals deserve our support.
We can help transgender children feel understood by assisting them in becoming their authentic gender selves as early as possible.
Everyone is entitled to happiness and to be free of persecution.

Unfortunately, slow, cumbersome legal paths for gender reassignment, unnecessary medicalization, and hate speech, are leaving many citizens exposed to unbearable discomfort and discrimination, putting many at risk of poverty, social isolation, self-harm, and suicide.

Transgender youth are subjected to prejudice and discrimination that jeopardizes their lives and gender affirmation.
Prejudice and discrimination are still prevalent. Even in advanced countries, entrenched beliefs and attitudes stymie social evolution.

Transgender youth are subjected to prejudice and discrimination that jeopardizes their lives and gender affirmation.

We believe that equality and social justice can be achieved only by recognizing and valuing differences.

Sexual orientation discrimination is illegal under the Employment Equality Directive (2000/78/EC). Gender non-conformists are protected by the Gender Equality Directive (recast) (Directive 2006/54/EC). But these directives are often not properly implemented in Europe.

The Webinars

Webinar 1: To explore parents & professionals’ experiences
^{29th & 30th March}

This webinar aimed to explore the experiences of both parents raising trans youth and professionals working with them. With a particular focus on best practices, attendees could hear first-hand accounts from those that know trans youth best, deepening our understanding of gender identity and supporting trans individuals. By bringing together a community of advocates, participants could listen and learn more about the unique challenges this population faces in today’s world, as well as explore constructive tools for advancing institutional change and providing comprehensive support for these young people.

Webinar 2: Family associations as a catalyst for the well-being of gender variant youth
^{17-18-19 May}

This webinar highlighted the importance of family support systems in the development and well-being of gender variant youth. It was very rich in content and insights thanks to the ten different associations that contributed from five different countries, giving us a global outlook on advocating for LGBTI+ people. Participants gained valuable insight into associationism’s impact on advocacy, parental support networks, political action as it relates to transgender youth protection. The discussion also focused on other topics such as support systems for young adults and policy standards tailored towards protecting them across various contexts. To sum up, this webinar illustrated the critical role that family associations can play in ensuring the rights of LGBTI+ youth are respected around the world.

Webinar 3: Health care in supporting developments of trans* children and youth
^{21-22 June}

Trans youth have unique needs due to the environment they live in, and it’s important to understand the healthcare measures being provided to meet those needs. The third webinar series aimed to explore these measures, offering a comprehensive look into how trans youth can access the care they need. The discussion touched on topics such as safe spaces, access to mental health resources, alternative treatments and more — all of which are hugely beneficial in providing both physical and emotional support for trans youth. By raising awareness about what is available for trans youth and educating professionals on how best to foster an inclusive environment, this webinar is sure to be a milestone event in promoting the well-being of marginalized communities.

The conference in Lisbon

The Lisbon Conference on trans* youth rights which took place 22-23 September 2022, was a historic gathering of activists, parents, lawmakers and legal experts from across Europe. Over the course of two days in Portugal’s capital, these stakeholders came together to exchange awareness and ideas about how best to protect and defend the human rights of trans* young people. Guests attended from countries with progressive laws that safeguard the rights of trans* persons and others that lack this protection. In addition, representatives from the European Parliament were also present to discuss how cross-border legislation can be better enforced to ensure everyone is guaranteed their basic human rights, regardless of gender identity or expression.

The conference proved to be a powerful attempt at setting a framework for creating greater social justice for all those around the world who remain vulnerable because of their gender identity. The conference presented a powerful manifesto that was created and signed by parents in support of the rights of trans youth – a testament to the success of this movement and its potential to trigger real social change. The manifesto was officially presented at the Portuguese Parliament, and the event was broadcasted on tv to reach those who could not attend the Lisbon event. This marked an unprecedented awareness campaign for trans advocacy in Portugal, giving hope to many people in need of support.

The Manifesto

The conference presented a powerful manifesto that was created and signed by parents in support of the rights of trans youth – a testament to the success of this movement and its potential to trigger real social change. The manifesto was officially presented at the Portuguese Parliament, and the event was broadcasted on tv to reach those who could not attend the Lisbon event. This marked an unprecedented awareness campaign for trans advocacy in Portugal, giving hope to many people in need of support.

A series of priorities emerged from these meetings. End discrimination, violence, and hate speech have been placed at the top of the list while expanding access to healthcare, and self-determination has also been viewed as paramount. In addition, changes in legislation are being proposed to better represent transgender children and youth and monitor member states that refuse these reforms. To this end, knowledge dissemination is essential so that all levels of society are aware of the necessary changes. Education institutions also need reform to accommodate transgender youth, and greater respect for their rights should be exemplified in books for children and toys. Finally, more support needs to be given to those working on behalf of transgender rights through NGOs so they may increase their efforts in promoting acceptance at workplaces and providing employment opportunities for young people.

A series of priorities emerged…end discrimination, violence, and hate speech have been placed at the top of the list, while expanding access to healthcare and self-determination has also been viewed as paramount.

Click here to Read the manifesto