The false narrative that trans identity is a mental health condition resurfaced in November after the first openly transgender person was elected to the U.S. Congress. In response, a South Carolina representative introduced a bill that would ban trans people—including the newly-elected congresswoman—from using bathrooms that align with their gender identities on federal property. On November 20, the sitting representative shared a social media post that read, “Your mental illness will not become my new normal.” The post received nearly 11 million views and 6,700 comments as of December 4. While some comments repeated the false claim that trans identity is a mental health condition, others attempted to debunk the myth.
Recommendation
The high-profile source of the claim increases its impact. The persistent false narrative equating being trans to a mental health condition reveals ongoing confusion about and stigma against trans people. Messaging may explain that while trans people and others in the LGBTQ+ community may experience psychological distress in response to legal stigma—including bathroom bans—and discrimination, all reputable mental health organizations agree that LGBTQ+ identities are variants of human gender and sexuality and are not mental health conditions. Sharing mental health resources geared toward trans people is recommended, such as directories where people can search for trans-informed therapists and support groups, the Trans Lifeline, the Trevor Project’s hotline for LGBTQ+ youth, and the LGBT National Help Center.
Fact-checking sources: Poynter, Cleveland Clinic
