Legal advocacy on behalf of transgender and gender nonconforming youth

Most young people in Western society take for granted such basic givens of civic life as having a birth certificate, school records, and first driver’s license that accurately reflect their gender and name.1 But for transgender and gender nonconforming young people, these “givens” can pose enormous legal obstacles. Even something as mundane as entering a public rest room can pose a dilemma for transgender people. The legal hurdles facing transgender youth who seek respect for their gender identity and expression in many walks of life can be daunting – but need not be insurmountable. This chapter outlines legal issues commonly faced by transgender and gender nonconforming young people and the growing range of rights and strategies to allow them to be respected for who they are.