DOJ Targeting Trans Youth Healthcare

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that it had sent more than 20 subpoenas to doctors & clinics performing gender-affirming care for minors as the current administration ramps up its attacks on this marginalized community. The subpoenas came despite every major American medical association supporting gender-affirming care for both adults & youth including the American Academy of Pediatrics. Bruce Parker, Chief Operating Officer of Rocky Mountain Equality stated, “This is yet another attempt to push a broad, dangerous ideology that criminalizes the existence of transgender people. These providers are not committing crimes, they are doing their jobs: providing healthcare. Instead of protecting vulnerable communities, the DOJ is using its power to target & intimidate doctors, dismantle trust in healthcare & put transgender youth at even greater risk. The federal government’s coordinated campaign of fear & misinformation is putting our communities at risk, leading to threats of violence & damaging the mental health of trans people & their families. Gender-affirming care is supported by every major medical association in the United States & is often the difference between hope & despair for young trans people. We stand in full solidarity with the doctors, nurses & clinics being targeted. We stand with the families fighting for their kids’ right to thrive & we stand with every young person who is scared about what this means for their future. The federal government cannot put themselves in the way of families making decisions for themselves about healthcare. Our federal leaders need to reject this politicization of healthcare & immediately halt any efforts to harass or punish those who provide or receive gender-affirming care.”