Democratic Attorneys General Express Strong Support for Gender-Affirming Healthcare for Transgender Youth
On Wednesday, over a dozen Democratic state attorneys general voiced their unwavering support for gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth, emphasizing the importance of access to life-saving medical treatments.
This statement follows a recent executive order by former President Donald Trump, issued late last week, which threatened to reduce federal support for crucial treatments like puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries for transgender minors.
State Attorneys General Reaffirm Commitment to Gender-Affirming Care
A joint statement from fourteen Democratic attorneys general, led by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, underscored their dedication to ensuring transgender youth have access to gender-affirming care. They emphasized that healthcare decisions should remain in the hands of patients, families, and doctors, not politicians who seek to restrict freedoms.
“As state attorneys general, we stand firmly in support of healthcare policies that respect the dignity and rights of all people,” they declared. The statement was signed by attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Gender-Affirming Care: A Vital, Life-Saving Medical Treatment
The attorneys general reaffirmed that gender-affirming care is essential, calling it “life-saving medical treatment that helps individuals live authentically.” They strongly criticized former President Trump’s executive order, calling it both scientifically and legally incorrect.
The attorneys general also rejected any comparison between “female genital mutilation” and gender-affirming care, stating, “There is no connection between the two.” Furthermore, they pointed out that no federal law bans gender-affirming care, emphasizing that President Trump cannot change this through an executive order.
Trump’s Executive Order Threatens Access to Gender-Affirming Healthcare
Trump’s January 28 order aims to restrict access to transition-related care for minors, including individuals up to 19 years old. The order also seeks to halt federal funding for gender-affirming treatments via programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and TRICARE. Several medical centers across the U.S. have already suspended gender-affirming care in response to the order.
The executive order also directs federal agencies to cut funding to institutions, including medical schools and hospitals, that provide transgender healthcare for youth.
Court Victory Reaffirms Federal Funding for Gender-Affirming Care
On Wednesday, the attorneys general celebrated a legal victory that required the government to restore funding frozen by the Trump administration. The Justice Department’s January 31 notice confirmed that federal agencies cannot block or freeze funding related to gender-affirming care due to the OMB memo or Trump’s executive orders.
Despite ongoing legal challenges, the attorneys general reassured the public that federal funding for gender-affirming healthcare remains available. They warned, “If the federal administration takes further steps to block this critical funding, we will take more legal action.”
State Attorneys General Continue to Defend Gender-Affirming Healthcare
The attorneys general committed to enforcing state laws that protect access to gender-affirming care in their jurisdictions. They also pledged to continue challenging any unlawful actions taken by the Trump administration to limit access to transgender healthcare for youth.
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