Sign in Subscribe
Attorneys general

New York Attorney General Leads Coalition in Suing Trump Administration over Transgender Health Care Access

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A coalition of 17 states and the District of Columbia, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for its efforts to restrict access to gender-affirming health care for transgender and nonbinary youth. The lawsuit claims that the administration's actions are unlawful and will harm the health and well-being of thousands of young people.

The Trump administration's policies aim to intimidate health care providers into halting medically necessary treatment for individuals under the age of 19, despite the fact that such care is legal and protected by law in many states, including New York. The administration's actions include issuing guidance threatening criminal prosecution of providers, launching investigations into major hospitals, and demanding private patient data.

The lawsuit argues that the administration's actions are not based in law, but rather designed to intimidate and suppress care through illegal threats and coercion. Medical experts agree that gender-affirming care is safe, necessary, and in many cases, lifesaving. Denying access to such care has been shown to increase rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality in transgender youth.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump administration's policies aim to restrict access to gender-affirming health care for transgender and nonbinary youth, despite the fact that such care is legal and protected by law in many states.
  • The lawsuit claims that the administration's actions are unlawful and will harm the health and well-being of thousands of young people.
  • Medical experts agree that gender-affirming care is safe, necessary, and in many cases, lifesaving.
  • Denying access to such care has been shown to increase rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality in transgender youth.
  • The lawsuit argues that the administration's actions are not based in law, but rather designed to intimidate and suppress care through illegal threats and coercion.
  • The companies involved in the lawsuit are:

+ The National Association of Social Work (NASW)

+ The American Psychological Association (APA)

+ The American Medical Association (AMA)

+ The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

+ The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

+ The Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

+ The National LGBTQ Task Force (The Task Force)

+ WAVE Women

+ In Our Own Voices, Inc.

+ The Sylvia Rivera Law Project

  • "Transgender and nonbinary youth deserve the freedom to access the health care they need without fear, shame, or government interference," said Dr. Carla Smith, CEO of The NYC LGBT Community Center.
  • "To deny a transgender child the right to gender-affirming care is the truest form of cruel and unusual punishment," said Yaetza Maria Martinez, WAVE Women.

Statistics:

  • 17 states and the District of Columbia have joined the lawsuit against the Trump administration.
  • The lawsuit claims that the administration's actions will harm the health and well-being of thousands of young people.
  • Medical experts agree that gender-affirming care is safe, necessary, and in many cases, lifesaving.
  • Denying access to such care has been shown to increase rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality in transgender youth by up to 50%.

Sources:

  • The New York Attorney General's Office
  • The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
  • The Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
  • The National LGBTQ Task Force (The Task Force)
  • WAVE Women
  • In Our Own Voices, Inc.
  • The Sylvia Rivera Law Project

Read more