LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Really, it doesn’t get simpler than this: parents who let their transgender kids chose their names and express their preferred gender identity results in good mental health outcomes says a new study published in Pediatrics. The study was conducted by University of Washington Professor Kristina Olson.

This study also indicates that trans people are not automatically doomed to mental health problems.

Co-researcher Katie McLaughlin: “[the findings] suggest that mental health problems are not inevitable in this group, and that family support might buffer these children from the onset of mental health problems so commonly observed in transgender people.”

Professionals are saying the study is “crucially important” and the findings are matching what they’re seeing in the real world:

Sarah Painer of Cincinnati’s Transgender Health Clinic: “I think the study is really reflective of what we see in practice. . . . I think more research like this will hopefully help the world see that this can be a good thing – to let our kids be who they are.”

USF’s Child and Adolescent Gender Center Clinic’s Dr Ilana Sherer: “Olson and colleagues give supporters of social transition [children allowed to express gender and choose name] evidence that shows what we have suspected all along: that socially transitioned children are doing fine, or at least as well as their age-matched peers and siblings.”

Trans Youth Equality Foundation’s Susan Maasch: “All of that stuff is obvious to us from observation and always has been.”

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The bottom line: trans positive parents equates to positive trans kids.

Research evidence continues top pile up in a positive direction for us. I’ve written about a number of trans studies. Here’s a sampling — this includes a study from a year ago with results along the same lines: https://lexiecannes.com/?s=study&x=0&y=0

UW study: Mental Health of Transgender Children Who Are Supported in Their Identities: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2016/02/24/peds.2015-3223

Background: http://www.washington.edu/news/2016/02/26/transgender-children-supported-in-their-identities-show-positive-mental-health/