Connection Between Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies & MH Symptoms

In May 2025, researchers from Harvard University and Boston Children's Hospital published a study in JAMA examining the connection between state-level policies that target gender minorities and mental health symptoms among transgender and nonbinary people. The study found that individuals living in states with more restrictive policies—such as bans on gender-affirming care or limitations on bathroom access—reported significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety symptoms. This research adds to growing evidence that anti-LGBTQ+ policies are not just political issues, but public health concerns that directly impact mental wellbeing.

The study used survey data from over 64,000 U.S. adults collected between 2020 and 2022. Researchers compared mental health symptoms among transgender and nonbinary individuals living in states with varying levels of legal protections and restrictions. They found that people in states with more discriminatory policies were 8% more likely to report symptoms of moderate or severe depression and 6% more likely to report moderate or severe anxiety, compared to those living in more affirming policy environments. These differences held even after accounting for other factors like age, race, and income.

The authors suggest that these outcomes may be linked to the stress of living in a hostile policy climate—what some researchers refer to as "structural stigma." They also note that these policies may affect access to care, increase fear of discrimination, and weaken community and social support systems. For transgender and nonbinary individuals, especially youth, the mental health impact of policy decisions can be profound and long-lasting.

This study underscores the urgent need for behavioral health providers and policymakers to consider the broader legal and social environment when addressing mental health. Laws and policies that target gender minorities can have real, measurable effects on psychological wellbeing. To improve outcomes, policymakers should work to promote inclusive, protective policies, while behavioral health systems must ensure access to affirming, culturally competent care for transgender and nonbinary communities.