John,

It's been a relentless few weeks with a steady drumbeat of tough news related to LGBTQ+ issues. That's certainly been true close to home in North Carolina, where two anti-trans bills became law last week. I want to give you a full, accurate overview of what's happening right now – even if it's tough to process. But I also want to share what we're doing with partners all across the country to support families of trans youth directly impacted by the recent flurry of attacks on healthcare access.

As you may have seen, clinics around the country have announced that they will no longer provide gender-affirming care to trans youth – including in access states where this care is legal. Large-scale providers in cities across the country, like the Children's Hospitals of Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, Kaiser Permanente, Children's National in Washington, D.C., and more have stopped providing gender-affirming care for youth under 19. In Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia, one (and in some cases two) providers announced that they will no longer provide this care or accept new patients. 

This is all happening due to the unprecedented and escalating attacks on the rights and healthcare access of trans youth. The Trump Administration is attacking every level of care options for trans youth – both by threatening the federal funds of any hospital that provides gender-affirming care to youth, and issuing subpoenas to 20 providers of all sizes across the country to try to intimidate every provider out of continuing this care. All of this on top of outright bans on gender-affirming care for youth in 27 states already; it's cruel, it's wrong, and it's harming real people, real families. We've heard from a handful of families that they recently moved to be near a clinic specifically so their child could receive care there, only for that clinic to close a few weeks later.

But we will not back down and we are proud to stand alongside so many others making this same commitment. Boston Children's Hospital issued a bold, clarion statement that they will continue providing gender-affirming care, and will not cater to intimidation and threats from this administration. Existing clinics across the country are staffing up and opening their doors to those who have just lost care due to closures. New providers are also starting gender-affirming care practices to help bridge the gaps. State governments are also taking a stand against these closures. 17 attorneys general around the country just sued the Trump Administration for attempting to intimidate hospitals out of providing gender-affirming care for trans youth. This lawsuit is a critical development and we know it will take time. We'll be here to support families while this works its way through the courts – every step of the way. 

In response to the closures, we are again expanding the Trans Youth Emergency Project to support families of trans youth who live in access states and who need to relocate their care due to a clinic closure. We're supporting families with 1-1 patient navigation services through this complex and shifting environment, and we're providing one-time $500 travel grants to help them travel to a new provider. Families who live in ban states and have lost care due to a closure are eligible for renewable travel grants. 

We're also distributing grants to new partners in these states that are directly supporting impacted families, and finding hope in the ways people everywhere are working to make sure no one is shut out of care because of a clinic closure. It takes all of us, arm in arm, working together, to make sure that the families of trans youth can access the medical care they need and deserve. Especially in tough periods like this, I draw hope and strength from knowing that our community is strong, we're showing up for each other however we can, and our refusal to back down will help us survive this era.

Your support makes a real, tangible difference right now, right here. Every person who has spread the word about the Trans Youth Emergency Project or donated to support this work has helped us connect with and directly support families impacted by care bans or clinic closures – logistically and financially, with care and compassion. If you're able, please consider chipping in $10, $25, or whatever you can give to help us continue this life-saving work.

Thank you so much for being on our team, and for showing up for equality however you can.

With gratitude,
Rev. Jasmine-Beach Ferrara
She/Her
Executive Director
Campaign for Southern Equality