The Biden Foundation has announced a new collaboration with LGBTIQ+ organisations Gender Spectrum and the Movement Advancement Project, launching a campaign focused on supporting transgender youth.
The Advancing Acceptance campaign hopes to raise awareness about the importance of family acceptance for trans and gender-nonconforming young people, compiling a number of touching video testimonials and resources for youth, their families and politicians.
Ineke Mushovic, executive director of the Movement Advancement Project, said: “Too many families, and the lives of too many transgender children, have been devastated by parents who reject these children or try to force them to be someone they’re not.
“The Advancing Acceptance campaign provides data and resources to help families gain understanding, and learn how they can support their transgender or gender diverse child in ways that help them succeed and thrive.”
Speaking to NBC News, Emily Hecht-McGowan, director of LGBT+ equality at the Biden Foundation, said: “Some people don’t understand that some of what they are doing and saying are actually harmful to young people.
“We want to educate people about how important it is and what good it does for LGBTIQ+ young people when they are accepted.”
One of the families profiled by the campaign are the Berman-Ruth family, comprising of Hilary Berman and Jon Ruth, along with their 16-year-old transgender son, Xander.
Reflecting on their son's coming out process, the parents said: “The school used the opportunity to provide transgender awareness and anti-bullying discussions for the kids. We also talked to the parents to help them understand what happened."
The Biden Foundation was established by former Vice President Joe Biden and his family in 2017.
