Trans teens may soon have nowhere to turn to for care.
Here in Merced, there has only ever been one local provider of gender-affirming care for young people: Golden Valley Health Centers. Unfortunately, this year, Golden Valley Health Centers instructed their staff to stop prescribing puberty blockers to teens, for fear of retaliation by the federal government. This week, NPR reported on documents from the Federal Government that reveal the next step in their plan to eliminate the last places are standing up for trans teens: university hospitals like UCSF.
Youth Trans Care Has Been Under Attack for Years
Over the past several years, more than half of US states have proposed or enacted laws banning gender-affirming care for anyone under 18. Families who are committed to the health and well-being of their trans kids have fled those states for places like California, including a family from Tennessee who attended our free pizza lunches earlier this year before moving up into the Pacific Northwest.
My trans teen and I attended the LGBTQ free pizza party in Merced every month for about six months while we lived nearby and we had such a wonderful experience. My teenager looked forward to each meeting to be able to spend time with other teenagers like himself, where he was accepted and was able to find community. -Anonymous event participant
Therefore, through these combined local, state and federal government efforts, it has already become extremely difficult for trans teens across the country to get the care they need, including here in the Central Valley.
Where Can Trans Teens in Merced Go?
People of all ages can and should still call Golden Valley and make an appointment to establish care with a provider who understands gender-affirming care. LGBTQ Merced can help families make this connection, and also make referrals to mental health providers and more. However, families of transgender teens should be prepared to be referred to UCSF for hormone or puberty blocker prescriptions. Most kids and teens in Merced have had to go to UCSF for LGBTQ+ care, well, kind of forever.
Residents of Merced and the Central Valley know that it can be extremely difficult to get specialist care. We are in a healthcare professional shortage area, lacking adequate numbers of everything from orthopedists to primary care providers.
It has never been any different for those seeking specialty LGBTQ+ care. The numbers of providers who are knowledgeable about transgender care are few. LGBTQ Merced is proud to be partnering with UC Merced in providing medical students in their SJV Prime program with an overview of transgender care, and the specific needs and barriers LGBTQ+ people in the Central Valley face. We are happy and available to provide this kind of training to any local organizations. However, this is not enough in the face of the Federal Government’s relentless war on LGBTQ+ health.
Will UCSF be forced by the federal government to stop providing gender-affirming care to teens? If that is the case, then Merced trans teens will have nowhere to go to seek medical care, except other countries.
Everyone Can Pitch in and Help
No matter your industry or position, all allies across the country need to rise up at this time and share links to LGBTQ health resources, facts and news. Trans people, and youth in particular, are retreating back into the closet and becoming fearful of asking for the care they need. That means that everyone needs to be vocal about their support, and share where people can get connected to help.
The most recent and largest survey of trans people showed that 40% of transgender people make a suicide attempt at some time in their life. Having access to care, and to social opportunities to meet other transgender people, are critical to the continued health and well being of our local kids. Numerous scientific studies have shown that transgender care for all ages is safe and life-saving.
Please share these facts on social media, with your family, and co-workers. And consider making a sustaining, monthly donation to LGBTQ Merced to support our social events, and personalized health referrals for local LGBTQ+ folks of all ages.
