On Wednesday, January 28, 2025, the Trump administration continued its campaign of hate and erasure of transgender people by issuing an executive order that seeks to severely restrict gender affirming care for people under 19 years of age.
This is a blatant and mean-spirited attack on a group of people who are estimated to be less than 1% of the overall US population, with 1.43% of youth 13 – 17 identifying as transgender. It should be noted that having a transgender identity does not require that a person undergo surgery or other gender affirming care. Nonetheless, that decision should be left to the youth, their parent or guardian, and their medical provider.
Let’s be clear, transgender people are real people and have been our loved ones since humans have been on this planet. This latest executive order is an attempt to negate the medical advice of the American Medical Association, World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH),and many other medical groups that agree that gender affirming care is effective, beneficial and medically necessary.
The executive order, which is filled with incendiary, scientifically false and harmful language, calls for restrictions on medical institutions that receive federal funding from providing such care as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgery. The executive order would have a large negative impact on transgender youth and others. Historically, gender affirming care has been a needed and even lifesaving option for cisgender youth, youth with disabilities, and transgender youth alike. For instance, puberty blockers are used by a wide range of minors—not just transgender individuals—and are only meant to block progression into puberty while the medication is being taken. As soon as the medication is stopped, puberty resumes. Gender-affirming surgery on minors is rare.
The order also infringes on the rights of parents to make private medical decisions about their children with the guidance of their clinicians, and threatens medical providers and vital federally qualified health centers and hospital systems with prosecution. Furthermore, this executive order stokes the fires of the divisiveness that has been a hallmark of Trump’s presidential campaigns by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to work with the Attorney General to “issue new guidance protecting whistleblowers” whose actions ensure compliance with this order.
Thanks to equity-focused advocates, elected representatives and other policymakers in Illinois, our state is a leader in expanding access to science-based, patient-centered health care whether individuals have private insurance or utilize Medicaid or other healthcare coverage options. As of January 2020, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services reimburses insurance providers for gender-affirming surgeries and services that are deemed to be a medical necessity and have prior authorization.
But we cannot rest on our laurels as we bear witness to the targeted discriminatory actions that the Trump administration is attempting to normalize. Pride Action Tank, a project of AIDS Foundation Chicago, is and will continue to be a co-conspirator for “good trouble” with our transgender siblings by working in solidarity with them and others to ensure that Illinois remains a safe haven and that we fight back the harmful policies being put forth at the federal level.
Get in “good trouble” with us: Text AFC to 40649 to get updates and alerts on how you can take action to stand up for our communities and fight back against the harmful policies of the Trump administration.
