President Trump has issued a cruel and harmful executive order intended to restrict access to evidence-based, medically necessary healthcare for transgender and gender-diverse youth under the age of 19. We know this is deeply upsetting, but be assured that all patients—no matter their age or insurance-type—can continue to safely and legally receive gender-affirming care at Transhealth at this time. This executive order does not take immediate effect, will require rulemaking or other processes before it can be implemented, and will face fierce legal challenges.
Designed to cause fear and panic, this order perpetuates dangerous myths about trans healthcare, and flies in the face of medical evidence and medical consensus. Best practice medical care for transgender youth is supported by every leading medical association in the U.S. According to Transhealth’s Pediatrician Ashley Brown, MD,
“Major medical organizations are in consensus that evidence-based healthcare for transgender children and adolescents is medically necessary, appropriate, and often lifesaving. The decision to start gender-affirming care is based on carefully considered assessments and discussions that occur between each patient, their family, and their healthcare provider. The government should not be overriding parents and interfering in anyone’s medical care.”
We pledge that Transhealth will not stand down or be bullied into abandoning our rights, our communities, our hope, our joy, or our belief in a better world by the actions and rhetoric of a small group of people who are willfully choosing to reject objective reason, scientific and medical consensus, as well as a respect for life, liberty and dignity.
The critical care we provide is built on a foundation of scientific and medically-sound best practices, and is bolstered by the legacies of countless generations of trans and gender-diverse communities before us. Transhealth serves hundreds of transgender and gender-diverse youth who need the life-saving gender-affirming pediatric care, mental health care, and community support services we provide now more than ever. Trans and gender-diverse youth need hope, joy, and safety, and we will keep being there for them no matter what.
As more information becomes available about this executive order, we will be in touch. Until then, know that we are in this together. We are not going anywhere and all of our patients can, at this time, continue to receive the gender-affirming care they need and deserve.
In Solidarity,
Jo Erwin (any pronouns), RN, BSN
CEO
