Equality California Condemns Proposed Federal Rules Banning Critical Federal Funding for Hospitals and Clinics Providing Transgender Healthcare

WASHINGTON - Equality California, the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization - released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoangfollowing the release of two long-awaited proposed rules by the federal Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that would significantly limit access to medical care for transgender youth nationwide:

Donald Trump is continuing his attack on healthcare access, inserting the federal government into deeply personal medical decisions that belong between doctors, parents and their children. Families should determine the appropriate care for their child in consultation with their medical providers.

One proposed regulation would prohibit federal Medicaid funds from being used to provide care to transgender youth under age 18. The other regulation would prohibit hospitals that receive Medicare and Medicaid funds from providing care to transgender youth under age 18. It is important to remember that these are just proposed regulations - they do not automatically change current law or prohibit doctors from providing care to their patients.

These proposed rules will hold healthcare institutions hostage and put them in an impossible position: to uphold their ethical obligations and comply with California law by providing medically necessary healthcare, or to lose federal Medicare and Medicaid funds they rely on to serve entire communities. This threatens everyone's access to affordable care, because the vast majority of hospitals and clinics rely on federal funding to stay open.

In California, transgender healthcare is not only legal - it is recognized as medically necessary and a fundamental right. Every major U.S. medical association affirms that transgender young people should have access to evidence-based, age-appropriate healthcare. We urge hospitals and clinics to remain focused on delivering high-quality care to their patients, and not cave to political intimidation or threats from Donald Trump.

Even if these rules are implemented, transgender healthcare will remain legal and protected in California.We call upon our state leaders to ensure that California's healthcare institutions comply with state law, uphold nondiscrimination standards, and take decisive action to protect access to lifesaving care for transgender people.

Together with our state and national partners, we will continue to challenge these discriminatory rules and make sureproviders fulfill their oath of ensuring access to care. To transgender kids, their families, and the doctors-you are not alone, and we will never stop fighting for you."

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