By Brandie Reiner, NASW Arizona Chapter Executive Director
According to the legislative tracker maintained by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a total of 456 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced during the current year. President Trump has enacted eight executive orders specifically aimed at individuals identifying as LGBTQ+. The level of hostility fostered by federal and legislative policies has escalated to such an extent that the United States Department of Homeland Security issued a warning regarding domestic terror threats directed at LGBTQ+ individuals as early as 2023.
The Rise of Political Violence Through Discriminatory Policies
When the stroke of a pen becomes as lethal as a bullet from a gun, political violence transcends physical assaults to include legal and policy-driven measures that undermine the rights and well-being of marginalized populations. Recent federal actions exemplify this by redefining sex and gender based on biological characteristics, effectively negating legal recognition of transgender and intersex individuals; restricting access to gender-affirming care by instructing the Department of Health and Human Services to remove protections for transgender health care; enforcing discriminatory educational policies that prohibit transgender students from participating in sports and utilizing restroom facilities corresponding to their identity; and diminishing protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in the military and federal employment by eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Federal and legislative policies impacting LGBTQ+ individuals lead to severe consequences, worsening existing inequalities and discrimination. Recently, law enforcement in Tucson, Arizona, tried to arrest a cisgender Black female while she was using a Walmart restroom because, to them, she appeared to masculine to use a women’s restroom. As reported by the GLAAD ALERT Desk, incidents of violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, fueled by public misinformation and false police reports, have surged since June 2022, totaling over 2,242 incidents nationwide.
Our transgender youth, who already confront disproportionately high rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality due to systemic discrimination, face intensified mental health risks because of these measures. Restrictions imposed on gender-affirming care neglect established medical consensus, compelling many individuals to pursue unsafe or unregulated alternatives. LGBTQ+ youth experience increased bullying, discrimination, and obstacles to affirming environments within educational institutions, which contribute to elevated dropout rates and homelessness, thus further entrenching their social and economic marginalization.
Research conducted by The Trevor Project emphasizes the significant influence of state policies on the well-being and mobility of LGBTQ+ youth, thereby highlighting the urgent necessity to address these policy assaults. Their findings indicate that 45 percent of LGBTQ+ youth reported adverse effects on their mental health due to restrictive state laws, while 35 percent contemplated relocation as a result of these policies. This observation corresponds with wider concerns regarding the mental health crisis, health care inequities, and social marginalization experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals.
When discriminatory policies establish hostile environments, they not only exacerbate mental health outcomes but also disrupt stability, compelling numerous young individuals to leave their homes in pursuit of safety and acceptance. These findings accentuate the imperative for policies that affirm and safeguard LGBTQ+ individuals rather than perpetuate harm.
The emergence of discriminatory policies targeting LGBTQ+ individuals constitutes a direct manifestation of political violence. Further exacerbating our country’s mental health crises, health care disparities, and social marginalization. These policies provoke such inhospitable conditions that numerous LGBTQ+ youth endure profound distress, with some contemplating relocation as a means of escaping potential harm.
By institutionalizing discrimination through legislation, policymakers effectively weaponize legal frameworks to systematically undermine the rights, dignity, and safety of marginalized communities. This entrenched harm highlights the pressing necessity for advocacy and policy reforms aimed at mitigating political violence, safeguarding LGBTQ+ individuals, and fostering a society grounded in equity and inclusion.
How can social workers help?
As social workers, we hold a professional and ethical obligation to participate in political advocacy, given that systemic policies have a direct effect on the individuals and communities we serve. Challenges encountered by the clients and communities we serve, including access to health care, inadequate social safety nets, lack of anti-discrimination protections, and issues in criminal justice reform, largely arise from legislative shortcomings.
Through engagement in policymaking, be it voting, lobbying, holding public office, or rallying grassroots support, social workers can influence legislation that fosters social justice, equity, and human rights. Political involvement is integral to social work; it is a vital component of the profession’s goal to confront oppression and champion systemic changes that benefit our clients and communities.
Now, more than ever, we call upon you to join us in meeting the country in this pivotal moment, to rise against injustice and to create the “good trouble” necessary to dismantle oppressive systems and build a more just and equitable society.
