Feb. 5 (UPI) — Two transgender adults, the families of five transgender youth and two LGBT rights organizations, GlAM and PFLAG, are suing the Trump administration over its controversial move to withhold federal funding to medical institutions that provide gender-affirming medical care to those under the age of 19.
Gender-affirming care, including for minors, is supported by every major medical association in the United States. In going against medical guidance, Republicans over the past few years have sought to restrict and ban gender-affirming care, while spreading misinformation concerning such treatment.
On returning to the White House last month, President Donald Trump has implemented a series of policies attacking transgender people, including issuing an executive order on his first day in office directing government policy to recognize only male and female as genders and stating that they are “not changeable.”
Eight days later, he signed a second executive order, “Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” directing federal agencies to withhold funds from medical providers that offer gender-affirming medical care, such as puberty suppressants and hormones, to anyone under the age of 19.
The lawsuit — filed Tuesday by Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Maryland and Hogan Lovells and Jenner & Block — asks the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland to enjoin the government from enforcing Trump’s second executive order on the grounds it unconstitutionally usurps Congress’ authority to appropriate federal funds for medical institutions, providers and researchers.
They also argue it violates the rights of thousands of transgender youth by depriving them of medical care as well as infringes on parents’ rights by overriding their judgment regarding the medical care of their children.
“For decades, doctors and other health professionals have followed well-established medical standards to provide care that helps transgender youth thrive,” Alex Sheldon, executive director of GLMA, said in a statement.
“Now, an extreme political agenda is trying to overrule that expertise, putting young people and their providers in danger.”
One of the plaintiffs, a 17-year-old transgender girl referred to in the court document as W.G., has already felt the effects of Trump’s executive order.
According to the lawsuit, she and her family moved to Virginia after her home state of Tennessee enacted a ban on gender-affirming care for minors in March 2023.
Due to financial difficulties and the fact that her family doctor in Virginia wouldn’t accept Medicaid, she scheduled an appointment with the Children’s Hospital of Richmond.
A day before her appointment, Trump signed the executive order threatening federal funding for medical professionals offering gender-affirming care for minors. A few hours before her appointed on Jan. 29, W.C.’s mother was informed by hospital staff that her daughter’s appointment was canceled “because of everything going on,” the lawsuit states.
“I thought Virginia would be a safe place for me and my daughter,” Kristen Chapman said in a statement. “Instead, I am heartbroken, tired and scared.”
Trump’s restrictions on gender-affirming care has been met with staunch pushback from LGBTQ organizations and medical professionals.
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health, the leading medical organization for treating gender identity and gender dysphoria, called Trump’s executive order “harmful to patients and their families” on the day it was issued.
“Transgender youth need comprehensive, individualized, family-based care from multidisciplinary teams,” Asa Radix, WPATH president, said in a statement.
“Healthcare decisions should be made by patients, families and their healthcare professionals, guided by evidence-based practices, clinical guidelines and individual needs rather than government mandates.”
In New York State, Attorney General Letitia James warned hospitals that denying care to transgender minors in line with Trump’s executive order would be in violation of state law.
