The Washington Leadership Institute’s Class of 2023 created a guide to legal rights and protections for transgender and gender non-conforming minors in Washington State. The guide answers basic questions about relationships with schools, employers, doctors, landlords, and the public.

The Know Your Pride guide is available in English and Spanish.

A minor in an emergency situation may be able to consent to stay in a shelter. Generally, shelter staff must notify your parents that you are in the shelter.

However, if you are seeking or receiving gender affirming treatment or reproductive health care services, the shelter staff does not have to notify your parents of your whereabouts, but instead they will contact the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). The shelter will also notify DCYF instead of your parent(s) if your situation shows that notifying your parent(s) will lead to your abuse or neglect.

Separately, if a shelter cannot reach your parent(s) or your parent(s) do not state you have to return to their care, you can consent to stay in the shelter. If your parent(s) request your return, you cannot consent over their refusal.

For support finding available emergency shelters, contact Safe Place.

Under the Washington Law Against Discrimination and OSPI policies, LGBTQIA+ students have protected rights. Public school officials are required to respect LGBTQIA+ students by:

• allowing transgender students to wear the clothing that matches their gender identity,

• calling transgender students by their appropriate name and pronouns, and

• providing transgender students with access to safe and appropriate restrooms and locker rooms.

If these laws have not been followed, LGBTQIA+ students can seek legal help and/or file a formal complaint.

Senate Bill 5883 allows unaccompanied homeless minors to provide informed consent for their own health care, for nonemergency, outpatient, and primary care services, including:

• physical examinations

• vision examinations and eyeglasses

• dental examinations

• hearing examinations and hearing aids

• immunizations

• treatments for illnesses and conditions

• routine follow-up care customarily provided in an outpatient setting (excluding elective surgeries)

While Senate Bill 5883 focuses on basic healthcare, consent to further care, such as gender affirming services, may be available through the Mature Minor Doctrine. Under the Mature Minor Doctrine, minors can consent to their own healthcare if they are determined to be “mature” by their physician.

Conversion therapy is not allowed in Washington state. It is considered unprofessional conduct for a medical professional to perform conversion therapy on a minor. If a minor has been subject to conversion therapy, they can file a complaint against the doctor or physician’s assistant.

If you are a young person in need of immediate mental health support, call 988.