Welcome to episode 7 of The Spectrum. This was recorded on February 4, 2025.

The fallout from Trump’s attempt to ban gender affirming care for minors is starting to be felt.

On February 1, 2025, VCU Health and Richmond Children’s Hospital at VCU suspended gender affirming care for anyone under 19 years old. 

UVA Health has also suspended gender affirming care for patients under 19 years old.

Both cited Trump’s executive order, the subject of our last episode, and guidance from Vriginia’s Office of the Attorney General. Neither has provided any details on what that guidance was. I’ve looked on the the website for the Attorney General so any guidance provided was not made public.

It is disappointing that these healthcare providers did not immediately go to court asking for an injunction. It’s bad enough that children are being denied healthcare because of the prejudice of a bunch of transphobic politicians. It’s even worse when patients who had been under a doctor’s care and receiving hormones will now be left without any recourse. What will be the fate of these innocent victims?

Some may find a doctor willing to prescribe medication in defiance of an obviously illegal order but, let’s face it, most doctors and most especially the organizations they work for will be cowards. This will force desperate people to turn to the black market for medication. They will be taking it without proper guidance. This is a recipe for tragedy..

The news is not all bad, however. Several organizations are suing over these discriminatory executive orders. This includes the ACLU, HRC, Lamba Legal and PFLAG. There may be others that I’m not yet aware of. If you can support these organizations, now is the time.

If we fail to protect our transgender and nonbinary siblings then they will just be the first group to fall to Trump’s fascism. We must all stand together. That Ben Franklin quote I mentioned in the introductory episode about needing to hang together or we will hang separately is sounding more appropriate every day. 

If you have been impacted by this and would be willing to share your views please contact me at spectrumpodcasthost@gmail.com. If you are a healthcare provider and your ability to take care of patients, we need to hear from you as well. You may remain anonymous if speaking publicly would put you in any danger.

My heart goes out to all of those who have done nothing wrong except tell the truth about who they are. To be met with this kind of systemic discrimination is terrible. Know that you are not alone and that we care about you. 

Stay safe and stay strong. 

Statement by Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU: https://www.chrichmond.org/services/transgender/

Statement by UVA Health: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/services/transgender-youth-health

Trump’s executive order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-children-from-chemical-and-surgical-mutilation/

ACLU https://action.aclu.org

HRC: https://www.hrc.org

Lambda Legal: https://lambdalegal.org

PFLAG: https://pflag.org