A recent report from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law has revealed that over half of transgender youth in the United States face significant legal challenges. Specifically, the study indicates that approximately 53% of transgender individuals aged between 13 and 17, equating to around 382,800 young people, reside in 29 states where restrictive laws and policies limit their access to gender-affirming care, sports participation, and appropriate facilities, as well as the use of gender-affirming pronouns in educational settings.
The analysis highlights a growing trend, with 24 states either enacting or expanding at least one type of restrictive legislation in 2025 alone. This legislative environment is creating disparities in the availability of support and resources for transgender youth across the country.
Regional Disparities in Transgender Youth Legislation
In stark contrast to the restrictive environments in many states, nearly 40% of the estimated 724,000 youth who identify as transgender in the U.S., or approximately 285,300 teens, live in 17 states and Washington, D.C. where protective “shield laws” ensure access to gender-affirming care. This indicates a significant divide in the legal landscape, which affects the daily lives of transgender youth depending on their geographic location.
The report notes that the South and Midwest are particularly impacted by restrictive laws. In these regions, a staggering 95% of transgender teens in the South and 51% in the Midwest live under at least one restrictive law or policy. Conversely, in more protective environments like the West and Northeast, 83% and 74% of transgender youth respectively benefit from shield laws.
Lead author of the report, Joshua Arrayales, a law fellow at the Williams Institute, emphasized the troubling trend: “For the past few years, we have witnessed a trend of escalating state legislation affecting transgender youth. The resulting patchwork of laws and policies is creating very different lived realities for transgender youth across the United States.”
The findings underscore the urgency for advocacy and policy reform to ensure equitable access to health care and support for all transgender youth, regardless of where they live.
For further details, including comprehensive state-level information on restrictive policies and shield laws, the full report is available on the Williams Institute’s website.