‘It’s outrageous and ridiculous’: LGBTQ+ advocates speak out in opposition to Trump’s executive order restricting gender-affirming care
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Reaction has poured in as health care networks across the Commonwealth suspended gender-affirming care services to those under the age of 19 per a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The executive order titled, "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," which is also referred to as gender-affirming care, states in part: "...Accordingly, it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called “transition” of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures..." THE WHITE HOUSE, January 28, 2025. Thus far, health institutions in the Commonwealth, such as VCU Health, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU and UVA Health, have adopted the rules of this executive order. "It's outrageous and ridiculous and really quite disgusting the way they talk in these executive orders," said Shannon McKay, co-founder and executive director of non-profit LGBTQ+ advocacy group He She Ze and We. VCU Health suspends gender-affirming surgery, medications for those 18 and younger During Friday's session for the Virginia House of Delegates, Democratic Del. Laura Jane Cohen of Fairfax County provided her opinions. "This order to end life-saving care will at the very least break our kids," Cohen said. McKay told 8News she is worried of the mental effect this will have on the youth. "We mostly feel that just the narrative around all of this is what is so damaging to our young people and their mental health status," McKay said. "We will continue to stand up and speak out for them and make sure that they can get the continued care that they need for their medical needs." McKay said for those who no longer have access to gender-affirming care or wish to but cannot, the non-profit will connect them to providers that are still providing these types of services. Attorney General Jason Miyares wrote a memo to both Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia providing prompt legal advice to "enable the Commonwealth--along with its agencies--to protect itself from legal risk and substantial financial exposure." In the memo, Miyares added that "any institution that continues to engage in such mutilation unacceptably and unjustifiably endangers not only itself and the Commonwealth but also the vulnerable children of this Commonwealth."
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Reaction has poured in as health care networks across the Commonwealth suspended gender-affirming care services to those under the age of 19 per a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
The executive order titled, "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," which is also referred to as gender-affirming care, states in part:
"...Accordingly, it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called “transition” of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures..." THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 28, 2025.
Thus far, health institutions in the Commonwealth, such as VCU Health, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU and UVA Health, have adopted the rules of this executive order.
"It's outrageous and ridiculous and really quite disgusting the way they talk in these executive orders," said Shannon McKay, co-founder and executive director of non-profit LGBTQ+ advocacy group He She Ze and We.
VCU Health suspends gender-affirming surgery, medications for those 18 and younger
During Friday's session for the Virginia House of Delegates, Democratic Del. Laura Jane Cohen of Fairfax County provided her opinions.
"This order to end life-saving care will at the very least break our kids," Cohen said.
McKay told 8News she is worried of the mental effect this will have on the youth.
"We mostly feel that just the narrative around all of this is what is so damaging to our young people and their mental health status," McKay said. "We will continue to stand up and speak out for them and make sure that they can get the continued care that they need for their medical needs."
McKay said for those who no longer have access to gender-affirming care or wish to but cannot, the non-profit will connect them to providers that are still providing these types of services.
Attorney General Jason Miyares wrote a memo to both Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia providing prompt legal advice to "enable the Commonwealth--along with its agencies--to protect itself from legal risk and substantial financial exposure."
In the memo, Miyares added that "any institution that continues to engage in such mutilation unacceptably and unjustifiably endangers not only itself and the Commonwealth but also the vulnerable children of this Commonwealth."
