Trump crackdown on gender‑affirming care fuels alarm across U.S.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/trump-crackdown-on-gender-affirming-care-fuels-alarm-across-u-s/ar-AA1L9Ops?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=5f5d9fc4ca5a40aa8b5b241dc8cc59e2&ei=79

Maya Goldman (25 Aug 2025)

The Trump administration's crackdown on gender-affirming care is expanding rapidly as officials investigate hospitals, cut off benefits for federal workers and their dependents, and pick new fights with blue states.

Why it matters: The latest moves could put hospitals and other providers in the middle of a showdown between federal power and patient privacy protections — or even force health providers to break their own state laws.

The actions have also created an atmosphere of fear for transgender individuals, their families, and health providers who say they're providing medically necessary care and haven't violated any laws.

"As of this month, we have really seen escalation," said Kellan Baker, senior adviser for health policy at the Movement Advancement Project, a policy think tank.

"I think there's this gallop to cause as much damage as possible in as short a time as possible, before the political repercussions ... manifest."

Federal court filings made public last week revealed the Justice Department has subpoenaed hospitals for extensive data surrounding transition-related care for individuals under 19 provided since the beginning of 2020.

...the Office of Personnel Management stripped coverage of gender-affirming care for minors and adults for federal workers beginning next year, other than mental health treatment and certain ongoing hormonal treatment.

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on August 25, 2025, 08:11:16 AM"I think there's this gallop to cause as much damage as possible in as short a time as possible, before the political repercussions ... manifest."

Yes.  This.  The Trump Administration wants us gone.  As for the political repercussions, we shall see.  I don't see anything significant until the midterms - if they even happen and aren't stolen by manipulation.

I am paranoid, okay?  You get that right up front. It is real and hard earned.  Make no bones about it, I'm not a natural fear monger. I've experienced fear, for years upon years.  By nature I'm not a "Debbie Downer." Yet, I am a... seasoned fear experiencer.  Somebody believed in us and will again.

The damage is done for the now; 3.5 more years of this, <<sob>>.  It's not about me any more.  Recovery of rights, progress and return to civility may not be in my generation's (late boomer 1960) lifetime. We have 30 years of rights cut down in less than 3 months earlier in the year and its not looking better even through the mid-term elections. 

I cringe and cry for the situation our youngsters find themselves in.  Those aware of themselves early on and foreseeing future brightness in fulfillment.  I fear for the young. 

I, we... know the stagnation of innocent life unlived, unloved.  We've closeted ourselves, hidden cloaked in societal bigotry, where ignorance compounded the potential for violence.  I feel a mask descending again.  I'm bold enough to say for the most of us, the struggle we see in our peer group, that we experience with our loved ones, and how we live within our microcosms causes consternation beyond count.

My life's experience expanded exponentially when I joined this group.  This site brought an expansion of my world.  I was alone, then I wasn't!  I've loved and been accepted - both here and in my own home. I yearn for it to remember. Look, in the U.S. veteran population there are 9100 or so that ID as trans, what does that say about the population as a whole, the some 2.8 Americans that do?

I'm placing a lot of faith in our sisters and brothers who lived within and are living through this turmoil. We'll try to repair it.  Hang tight.

Quote from: D'Amalie on Today at 12:44:00 PMWe have 30 years of rights cut down in less than 3 months earlier in the year and its not looking better even through the mid-term elections.

I share your concerns as well.

As a soldier, I was promised that the VA would take care of me when I left the service. I was told the VA would take care of me when the VA diagnosed my Gender Dysphoria. And with the stroke of a pen, that went away.

Back in 2023, it was estimated that there were 163,000 trans+ veterans. As veterans, we are trained warriors. We do not give up. We fight.

I just turned 68, so it isn't likely that I can still run 2 miles, but there are other ways we can fight back. Make sure to register to vote, then vote. The midterms are coming up, so make sure that the candidates who claim to represent you are willing to fight for you. Support those who are in the fight. Give your time, money, or your voice, whatever you can, to let them know they have your support.

Too often, people remain silent out of fear. That is a reasonable concern. But what they don't know is that you are more protected when you are in the public eye. When people know that you are trans, then discriminate against you, they have violated the law. They cannot claim they didn't know.

163,000 trans+ veterans are a lot of votes. Not everyone can afford to donate money or time. But consider this: what if every one of us donated just $1.00? And not just veterans. What if the entire trans population across the country donated just one dollar? The entire LGBTQ+ community represents almost 2% of the population. One dollar from each person would buy a lot of lawyers who can fight on our behalf.

If you are in a dangerous state, save your money and move to someplace safer. Protect yourself first, but do not let fear silence you. That is exactly what this Administration is trying to do. They want us to be silent.

I say NO! I was silent for 60 years. No more.

Transgender rights are LGBTQ rights. LGBTQ rights are human rights.

I swore to defend the Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic. That oath has no expiration date.