Richmond family joins lawsuit challenging Trump’s restrictions on gender-affirming care for youth
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Richmond family has joined several others nationwide in suing President Donald Trump and his administration over an executive order that aims to prevent those under 19 from getting gender-affirming care.
The family of 17-year-old Willow told the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that they moved from Tennessee to Virginia in 2023, after Tennessee passed a state-level ban on gender-affirming care for minors. After the move, they spent several months trying to find a provider that accepted their insurance so they could get Willow gender-affirming care -- then, even more months trying to secure an appointment.
Eventually, the family said they got Willow an appointment scheduled for Jan. 29. However, on Jan. 28, Trump signed an executive order meant to stop those under 19 from receiving such care. It does this by taking away federal funding from any institution that does not comply.
"Just a few hours before our appointment, VCU told us they would not be able to provide Willow with care," said Kristen Chapman, Willow's mother. "I thought Virginia would be a safe place for me and my daughter. Instead, I am heartbroken, tired and scared.”
VCU Health and the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU suspended gender-affirming surgeries and medications in the wake of this executive order, impacting patients like Willow.
In its prior statement, VCU Health said "appointments [would] be maintained to discuss specific care options for patients in compliance with the most recent guidance." This could include screening, counseling and "general medical and mental health care."
The lawsuit alleges that Willow -- known in the filing as "W.G." -- had her appointment outright canceled.
The ACLU said that this newest lawsuit was filed on behalf of two transgender young adults and five transgender adolescents, including Willow. It is a collaborative effort between the ACLU, multiple law firms and two nationwide LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations.
“For decades, doctors and other health professionals have followed well-established medical standards to provide care that helps transgender youth thrive,” said Alex Sheldon, the executive director of one of those organizations, GLMA. “Now, an extreme political agenda is trying to overrule that expertise, putting young people and their providers in danger. GLMA is taking this fight to court because our members will not stand by while politicians try to criminalize the care they provide and deny medically necessary treatment to young people. We are confident that the law, science and history are on our side.”
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares sent a memo to both VCU Health and UVA Health, writing in it that the "chemical and surgical mutilation of children must end immediately," echoing the language used to describe gender-affirming care in Trump's executive order.
“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,” Miyares wrote in the memo.
Gender-affirming care for young people, as defined by the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, can consist of any combination of the following:
- Medical evaluation
- Medical hormone management
- Prescription medications
- Mental health care
- Voice therapy
- Letters of medical necessity to address hormone treatment, school issues and/or surgery (as needed)
- Referrals to other medical and surgical specialists (as needed)
- Referrals to peer and family support groups
- Educational materials
This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.
