MAZON Statements

In a national and political climate that is growing increasingly hostile towards LGBTQ+ people of all ages and youth in particular, advocates are concerned that transgender (trans) youth are struggling to meet basic needs, including hunger, in rapidly increasing numbers. This month, the national advocacy organization MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger took bold organizational action by declaring trans youth a priority population, vowing to marshal resources and advocacy efforts on behalf of those in the community struggling with hunger. The unanimous decision by MAZON’s Board of Directors adds trans youth to its advocacy priority populations, which also include military families, veterans, single mothers, college students, Native Americans, and the people of Puerto Rico.

Abby J. Leibman, President & CEO of MAZON, stated:

“There is nothing more fundamental to human beings than the need to eat, and denying trans youth access to food resources — whether by government or charity — is absolutely inhumane. The hostility towards trans people and especially trans youth in this country is growing with both intensity and frequency. It is not only discriminatory, but also cruel and dangerous. 

“As a leader in the national anti-hunger community, we must step up to highlight this population and the acute sensitivities and barriers that they may face in seeking assistance from charitable organizations. Many of the organizations who advocate for trans youth do not focus on food insecurity, but we know this population faces unique barriers to assistance and that traditional ‘one-size-fits-all’ approaches are often ineffective. On top of it all, President Trump and his cronies are spewing hateful rhetoric and enacting new harmful policies with each passing day. We will not stand by and watch. We will not be silent. We are fighting back with every ounce of strength we have.”

According to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, the number of young people who identify as trans has nearly doubled in recent years — ages 13 to 17 comprise about 18% of the trans-identified population today, compared to 10% previously. Of the 1.6 million people ages 13 and older in the U.S. who identify as trans, 300,000 are youth ages 13 to 17. The Trevor Project has reported that 30% of LGBTQ+ youth experienced food insecurity in the past month, with disproportionately higher rates among transgender, nonbinary, and youth of color. 

Carolyn Schwarz Tisdale, Chair of MAZON’s Board of Directors, added:

“When we make the decision to add a new priority area, we do so with our full heart and soul. And in this case, we took action with clear and urgent resolve. Our organizational ethos is to step in where we see a growing need, which in this case is a dire one without much recourse or support. Furthermore, our history is one of real impact and success, built upon strong relationships with key partners and long term dedication to the cause. We are not committing to support trans youth for days, weeks, or months — we are committing to them until our support is no longer needed.”

In voting to immediately move forward with making trans youth a priority population, MAZON’s Board of Directors opted to expedite its decision, acknowledging the clear and immediate need at hand. Moving forward, MAZON’s staff will assess short- and long-term tactics to safeguard access for trans youth to consistently secure food assistance. Working alongside existing and new partners, the organization will prioritize building a better understanding of the support and resources available to food insecure trans youth in order to develop strong and meaningful responses, including but not limited to program development, policy advocacy, coalition outreach, and legal action.

To learn more about MAZON and how the organization has led the fight against hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds for 40 years, visit mazon.org.