California Medical Centers Curtail Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth Amid Federal Pressure

In several Republican-led states such as Texas and Tennessee, lawmakers have enacted numerous statutes restricting transgender individuals’ rights. These laws prohibit transgender minors from accessing specific medical treatments and have threatened investigations into their parents.

Jesse Thorn, a father of two transgender daughters residing in California, felt a mix of anger and sadness over these developments but remained confident because his family lived in a more supportive environment.

He recounted that for months, whenever someone expressed sympathy for his family’s situation, he would respond by emphasizing that his children were doing well and focusing on helping other transgender youth in need.

However, this sense of security has been disrupted as the clinic that cared for his family for years is now closing.

Two prominent medical institutions in California have recently scaled back gender-affirming treatments for transgender minors, citing pressure from the federal government. These actions have caused significant concern within LGBTQ+ communities in a state long recognized for its progressive policies and inclusive culture.

On Tuesday, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles closed its Center for Transyouth Health and Development, one of the oldest and largest clinics in the country serving transgender and gender nonconforming youth, and where the Thorn family had been patients. Additionally, Stanford Medicine in the San Francisco Bay Area has suspended surgical procedures, including the implantation of new puberty blockers, for patients under 19. Combined, these facilities provided care to thousands of young people.