Trans Youth Deserve Better: CHLA’s Decision Betrays Our Community

In June, the Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Skrmetti to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming hormonal therapies for transgender youth. On July 22nd, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles closed its Center for Transyouth Health and Development due to pressure from the Trump administration. Both of these decisions are devastating for transgender youth and their loved ones, and as an organization that works to support the well-being of children, youth, and their families, Collaborate PASadena unequivocally condemns these attacks on trans livelihood.

The Skrmetti decision, as part of the effort to increase anti-trans legislation throughout the country, has already uprooted families from their communities and will continue to impede attempts by trans youth, their parents and their doctors to acquire what has long been understood as necessary and integral care. While the ruling cannot change laws in states without bans, politicians will undoubtedly continue to push agendas targeting trans people, in particular trans youth. As we have seen in the decision from Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles to stop providing gender-affirming care, these attacks are already reaching our communities in Los Angeles.

CHLA’s decision to end gender-affirming services is deeply harmful and directly impacts some of the most marginalized in our community. Nearly 3,000 patients and their families have been forced to search for healthcare elsewhere and there are not enough providers to absorb the need. Given that CHLA is one of the few facilities that provides gender-affirming care to trans youth on public insurance, low-income trans youth and their families are being hit hardest. The hospital’s statement that the continued existence of the Center for Transyouth Health and Development would jeopardize care for “hundreds of thousands” of other children makes clear that its administrators do not see transgender youth as themselves worthy of protection. Complying in advance like this only indicates to those in power that certain populations are indeed disposable. It is an abdication of CHLA’s responsibility to care for all patients and makes all of us less safe in the long run.

We must be clear about what we are up against: eliminationist attacks on trans life that seek to eradicate trans people from public space and deny their right to exist. These recent decisions are part of a larger effort to strip transgender people of their rights including access to accurate IDs, workplace protections, healthcare, and the ability to participate in sports. As attacks on transgender people increase, and as anti-trans actors scaremonger about gender-affirming care for youth, we must remain steadfast in our unequivocal support of the right for all people—including youth—to access transition-related services. Such care is endorsed by every major medical, pediatric, and psychological association in the United States. More importantly, it is life-saving: we know that access to gender-affirming care decreases suicidality and improves outcomes in transgender youth.

As a community organization, Collaborate PASadena feels the impact of these attacks, condemns their perpetrators, and extends our unwavering support to the trans youth of our community. We affirm the right of trans youth to access necessary healthcare, to change name and gender markers, and to participate in society as equals to their cisgender peers. Amid right wing onslaughts on some of the most marginalized in our community—immigrants and trans youth—we must remember that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. Silence and complicity will not save us. We must all show up in whatever way possible to create a world in which trans children not only survive but flourish into the trans adults they are meant to be. Anything less is unacceptable.

As Miss Major says, “Remember: we’re stronger together. Don’t run and hide. We have to be more visible and unified than ever!” 

In love and solidarity,

Collaborate PASadena staff:

G, Michael, Syd, and Sam