Press Release

Today, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced proposals to bar any hospital nationwide that receive federal dollars from providing gender-affirming health care via Medicaid and Medicare programs to trans youth under 18 years of age.

The news is compounded with the passage of an anti-trans bill in the House of Representatives that criminalizes medical providers from providing gender-affirming care to trans youth, classifying it a felony with up to 10 years of prison.

Such developments are critical actions that corrode access to healthcare for anyone–not just trans youth. Our healthcare system is already incredibly burdened by inaccessibility, lack of equity, and rising costs; the move to propose further limitations on federal programs like Medicaid in regards to gender-affirming care will have consequential effects on healthcare access for everyone.

San Francisco Pride vehemently rejects the violence that is being enacted by such legislative actions against trans youth–and the trans community as a whole. Extremist tactics like these by the federal administration and the GOP are proof that they are a party wholly disconnected from the real issues facing everyday people in order to foment baseless fear to distract from their leadership failures.

To trans youth we reiterate: you are not alone. You are seen, respected and valued. You are our future. No level of vitriol will ever diminish the powerful essence of your trans identity.

San Francisco Pride stands alongside you because this fight is far from over.