Saint Paul, Minn. – Today, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at cutting federal support for gender transition healthcare for people under the age of 19. Donald Trump was campaigned on a wave of attacks against women and transgender people, including spending more than $215 million on ads scapegoating trans people and our healthcare.
On his first day back in office, President Trump signed a far-reaching executive order requiring federal agencies to discriminate against transgender people by denying who they are and threatening the freedom of self-determination and self-expression for all. Tonight, Trump signed a new executive order eliminating life-saving healthcare access for vulnerable trans Americans.
“In 2023 Minnesota became a trans refuge state. We promised to protect access to life-saving transition healthcare for trans and nonbinary individuals of all ages,” said Rep. Leigh Finke (DFL-Saint Paul), House author of the Trans Refuge bill and House Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus. “The passage of the trans refuge bill, and other trans protections put in place, made Minnesota a national leader for protecting the right to bodily autonomy for all people. Tonight’s executive order, removing access to transition healthcare in federal insurance programs and threatening trans refuge states like Minnesota, is completely discriminatory and dangerous, and Minnesota will fight it.
“Transgender people do not deserve to be policed in our healthcare decisions or in our personal lives. Not by the president, the public or anyone else. We do not need the President’s permission to live our authentic lives. In Minnesota, we will always fight for trans and nonbinary people, our healthcare access, and all of our rights.”
In 2024, the Minnesota Legislature passed legislation to include gender-affirming care in healthcare plans. Gender-affirming treatments are supported by scientific evidence and, when performed with proper clinical oversight, are proven to be safe. The safety, efficacy, and importance of GAC has been recognized by many medical and psychological associations, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Hannah Edwards (she/her), Executive Director of Transforming Families, one of Minnesota’s largest organizations supporting families with trans youth, stands in solidarity with parents and families with trans children/youth:
“Transforming Families is here to stand with and fight for families in Minnesota with transgender youth. We proudly recognize the inherent value and beauty in our transgender youth and are unwavering in our commitment to defending their rights against this deceitful and hateful executive order.
“This executive order is a heartless attempt to eradicate the existence of transgender people in the United States and an appalling attempt to incite a mass genocide on our trans youth by denying transgender children life-saving healthcare. It won't work. We have seen firsthand at Transforming Families how trans youth in Minnesota thrive when they are affirmed by their loving families and are allowed to follow the expert advice of their healthcare teams without government interference.”
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