SAN FRANCISCO — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced she is pushing for federal protections to ensure transgender minors have access to gender-transition care, even as the topic remains one of the most contentious political debates in the country.
Pelosi’s Visit to San Francisco VA Medical Center
On Thursday, Pelosi toured the San Francisco VA Medical Center to review healthcare system upgrades and new research projects. According to her office, the visit also highlighted concerns that House Republicans may attempt to reduce core veterans’ services, Fox News reported.
During the visit, reporters asked Pelosi about recent pauses in “gender-affirming care” in California. She responded:
“That’s something I’m working on nationally,” Pelosi said, avoiding direct comment on the state-level political fight over the issue.
Pelosi added that her goal is to ensure transgender youth have access to necessary care, while admitting it is unclear how much influence she can have in Washington given the current political divide. She noted that her Capitol Hill office displays a transgender pride flag in solidarity.
Federal Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Restrictions
Pelosi’s comments come as officials from 16 Democrat-led states filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from restricting gender-transition treatments for individuals under 19.
Filed in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, the lawsuit accuses the administration of seeking a nationwide ban by threatening healthcare providers with “baseless criminal charges” and investigations. Defendants in the case include President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Justice Department.
The suit challenges Trump’s January 28 executive order that halted federal support for gender-transition procedures, as well as memos from Bondi and Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate. Bondi’s directive ordered the DOJ to prosecute providers offering such services to minors.
Hospitals Pause Gender-Transition Surgeries for Minors
In response to the administration’s actions, several major medical institutions have scaled back or ended their services for transgender youth:
- Kaiser Permanente announced in July it would pause gender-transition surgeries for patients under 19 starting August 29.
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles closed its Center for Trans Youth Health and Development, one of the largest programs in the country.
- Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., confirmed it would no longer provide gender-related medical procedures for minors.
State Laws on Gender-Transition Care
Many states have introduced laws restricting or banning gender-transition treatments for minors. However, the states involved in the lawsuit — including California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Washington D.C. — allow such procedures.
Public Opinion and Political Divisions
Public polling shows the issue is dividing voters and even creating tension within the Democratic Party. A Pew Research survey found:
- Two-thirds of Americans believe athletes should compete based on the gender assigned at birth.
- 56% support banning gender-transition medical care for minors.
Last year, Trump’s campaign gained traction with a widely shared ad contrasting Vice President Kamala Harris’s progressive stance on transgender care — including taxpayer-funded surgeries for incarcerated individuals — with his promise to focus on “everyday Americans.” The ad ended with:
“Harris is for They/Them. Trump is for you.”
Democrats Face Internal Debate
Even within Democratic leadership, there are differing views. Earlier this year, California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed concern about his daughters competing in sports against biological males, calling it a matter of fairness.
“I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree — it’s deeply unfair,” Newsom said in March on his podcast. Critics noted he had previously signed laws expanding protections for transgender athletes.
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