Children's Hospital Los Angeles has put a hold on beginning hormonal therapies for transgender patients under the age of 19. This decision follows an executive order issued by President Trump, which seeks to halt the use of puberty blockers, hormones, and other medical interventions in transgender youth. According to a Los Angeles Times report, the hospital is also maintaining its previous suspension of gender-affirming surgeries for minors.
Issued on Jan. 28, the executive order outlines the federal government's position to not "fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another," as reported by NBC Los Angeles. CHLA began its suspension last Saturday, citing the need to carefully evaluate the executive order to truly understand its implications. However, transgender youth who were already receiving hormone treatment are allowed to continue their current care.
Trump's actions have drawn significant criticism from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, with families of transgender youth filing a lawsuit against the executive order. They argue that the order violates the rights of transgender individuals by denying them necessary medical care based solely on their sex and transgender status, as reported in a legal filing represented by ACLU and Lambda Legal. In contrast, the California Family Council has praised the move, with Vice President Greg Burt stating, "The long nightmare of medical institutions prioritizing radical gender ideology over science and ethics is beginning to end," as stated by the Los Angeles Times.
