Virginia organizations reject political attacks on trans youth and health care

RICHMOND, Va. – In response to Virginia Commonwealth University Health's announcement that it is closing its gender-affirming clinic to patients under 19, ACLU of Virginia, Equality Virginia, He She Ze and We, Side by Side, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, Transgender Assistance Program of Virginia, Seven Hills Family Medicine, Health Brigade, Thriving Trans Men of Color, Virginia LGBTQ+ Bar Association, Calos Coalition, Shenandoah LGBTQ Center, Progress Virginia, and Campaign for Southern Equality released the following statement:

The last few years have been incredibly challenging for trans young people and their families. Today, Virginia Commonwealth University Health announced its decision to close its gender-affirming care clinic in 90 days to patients under 19. This is yet another blow that has nothing to do with health – and everything to do with politics.

By trying to scare providers into halting the critical services they’ve provided for decades, the Trump administration is once again trying to will trans people out of existence. But trans Virginians aren’t going anywhere, and gender-affirming care for people under the age of 19 is STILL legal in Virginia. Across the Commonwealth, there are still doctors, nurses and clinicians committed to giving their patients the best, evidence-based care – which means gender-affirming care – who will not be cowed into preemptively complying with a hateful political agenda.

We see the political strategy. We reject it. We’ll keep fighting for trans youth, their families, and providers who support them.

Interested in signing on your organization to our statement? Email us at signon@equalityvirgina.org.