When Sutter Health told its patients in late November that it would no longer be providing gender-affirming care services for those 19 and under, their families began organizing.
The largest hospital system in Northern California didn't announce the policy change publicly, but quietly informed those receiving the care — right around Transgender Day of Remembrance — that the treatment would stop as of December 10. While it put a damper on their Thanksgiving holidays, the families of the affected transgender youth weren't going to take it lying down.
Rainbow Families Action, a collective of families in the Bay Area who have trans children, put out a call to its members and local organizations to join them for a rally outside a Sutter facility on December 8. Less than a week later, Sutter Health has reportedly reversed its decision, and rescheduled the appointments that were canceled.
"Something amazing happened last week," RFA wrote in a post on Instagram. "We and our partners organized and rallied when we heard Sutter Health was going to be shutting down GAC for minors on December 10. After weeks of email campaigns, media campaigns, letters, and a rally, Sutter Health did the right thing and reversed their decision. Our families still have care!"
Donald Trump signed an executive order attempting to ban gender-affirming care for patients under 19 shortly after taking office. A federal judge blocked the order in February, finding that it is likely unconstitutional. While the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for youth, the ruling does not interfere with states that have not criminalized the care.
Not only is it legal for minors to receive gender-affirming care in California, but the state became a sanctuary for the treatment following Gov. Gavin Newsom's signing of SB 107 in 2022. The law prohibits states that have banned the life-saving care from punishing those who travel to California to receive it through preventing the release of information or the arrest and extradition of someone based on another state's court orders.
The American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the World Medical Association, and the World Health Organization all agree that gender-affirming care is evidence-based and medically necessary not just for adults, but minors as well.
"Thanks to all of you in the video who showed up and who did all the things," RFA continued in its post. "In a dark time, we will look occasionally celebrate the light we make together. When we fight we win."
Charlie Kirk DID say stoning gay people was the 'perfect law' — and these other heinous quotes