HRW: US trans youth’s access to lifesaving healthcare is in jeopardy News
Laurel Wreath of Victors, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
HRW: US trans youth’s access to lifesaving healthcare is in jeopardy

Human Rights Watch warned Monday that transgender youths may face difficulty in accessing gender-affirming care on Monday. Of particular concern to them was an executive order signed by President Trump on January 28 that would prohibit children from being “mutilated” and withdraw federal funding and support for other essential gender-affirming care.

Human Rights Watch has extensively researched the devastating effects of withholding gender-affirming care on trans youth. The group maintained that providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth is effective in reducing the risk of suicidal attempts. It has also noted the US alarming rise in anti-trans legislation, including the fact that 26 US states are restricting access to some form of gender-affirming care for youths.

Transgender activists, trans minors and young adults, along with other medical associations dedicated to fighting for the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, have filed a lawsuit against President Trump for withdrawing this essential federal support. In the lawsuit, lawyers for the plaintiffs labelled Trump’s actions as unconstitutional for withdrawing federal funds for activities previously approved by Congress. They also criticized him for violating the rights of trans youth below the age of nineteen and that of their parents who wish to provide their children with gender-affirming care.

Before taking office, Trump promised that he would attack the trans movement, building upon the efforts in his first term, which includes the ban on transgender people from serving in the military. Another controversial executive order Trump signed, dedicated to protecting “the biological truth of females,” prohibited people assigned male at birth from being detained in female federal prisons and vice versa. This has also been subject to lawsuits and widespread criticism from official medical associations.

On February 3, New York Attorney General Letitia James urged New York hospitals to ensure that gender-affirming care is available to transgender patients despite Trump’s order, warning that refusing services based on gender is a violation of the state’s civil rights law and Executive Law.