EQCA - Equality California

12/24/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/24/2025 18:39

Equality California Statement on Attorney General Bonta’s Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration’s Declaration Targeting Transgender Healthcare

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 24, 2025

CONTACT: Jorge Reyes Salinas, Equality California
PHONE: (213) 355-3057/MOBILE: (213) 355-3057/EMAIL: [email protected]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined a coalition of state attorneys general in filing a lawsuitchallenging a recent declaration by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. that seeks to undermine professionally recognized standards of care for transgender youth and threatens doctors and hospitals with exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid for providing medically necessary healthcare. Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang released the following statement:

"We're grateful to Attorney General Rob Bonta and the coalition of state attorneys general for acting quickly to protect access to healthcare for transgender youth.

The so-called 'Kennedy Declaration' is unlawful and another dangerous overreach by the Trump administration. RFK Jr. does not have the legal authority to punish doctors for providing medically necessary, evidence-based healthcare.

Families should determine the appropriate care for their child in consultation with their doctors without interference from politicians like RFK Jr. and Donald Trump. This is yet another example of the Trump Administration attempting to control people's bodies while simultaneously dismantling healthcare access for millions of Americans.

This lawsuit is essential to protecting healthcare providers who are following the law. It sends a clear message that doctors and clinics in California should not fear losing their licenses or being excluded from Medicaid or Medicare simply for providing medically necessary care to transgender youth, and should continue to provide care to their patients.

In California, this care remains legal and protected under state law, and providers should be able to deliver it without fear of federal intimidation or retaliation.

Equality California will never stop fighting to ensure transgender youth can get the healthcare they need and deserve."

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Equality California is the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. https://www.eqca.org

EQCA - Equality California published this content on December 24, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 25, 2025 at 00:39 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]