No one's humanity or dignity should be up for debate. At Planned Parenthood Action Fund, we're observing Transgender Awareness Week, and we celebrate trans and nonbinary communities every day. No matter what. Trans and nonbinary people are important to the Planned Parenthood family — as patients, staff, and supporters. Together we're in the fight to protect and expand equitable health care for all who need it.
In 2023, a record number of anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced across the country. 19 states have passed laws that ban or severely restrict access to gender‑affirming care for young people. We know what these bills are about: control. They harm trans youth, interfere with essential health care, and attempt to keep people from showing up in the world as their authentic selves.
While there are bright spots this year, with states like Maryland and Vermont that enacted protections for gender‑affirming care, the threats go beyond the state level. They're showing up in Congress, too, with politicians packing must‑pass government funding bills with unprecedented and harmful measures that block access to gender‑affirming care domestically and around the world — along with attacks on abortion and birth control.
Politicians in Congress who oppose trans rights have said they won't stop. But neither will we. No matter the attack, we'll never stop fighting for a world where everyone has the right to get the health care they need.
Add your name: Tell Congress to stop the attacks on Planned Parenthood, and stop the attacks on patients' health care »
What is gender‑affirming care?
Gender‑affirming care is health care provided specifically to respect a person's gender identity. Whether that's trans, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming, gender identity is a personal, innate sense of one's own gender. And it may or may not align with a person's assigned sex. Not every one who seeks gender‑affirming care opts for hormone therapy or a physical gender transition. Gender‑affirming care is much broader than that. It includes counseling, support groups, voice therapy, social transitioning, and more.
Gender‑affirming care is about giving people the resources they need to thrive and live fully. In fact, every major medical and mental health association in the United States recognizes gender‑affirming care as medically necessary for trans and nonbinary youth.
