LID Condemns NYC Hospitals Removing Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Children

If you thought that living in New York City would insulate you from the worst of the Trump regime’s harms, guess again.  Late last week, NYU Langone Health abruptly cancelled appointments for transgender children receiving life saving gender-affirming treatment.  On Tuesday, NY Presbyterian removed information about gender-affirming care for trans youth from its website.  While they have not explained why, the move purportedly comes in the wake of Trump’s radically transphobic Executive Orders, which threaten to withhold federal funding from hospitals providing such treatment.  

NYU-Langone operates facilities all over the city, including a hospital center in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.  

What is NYU Langone so afraid of?  As one of the largest and most well-funded private hospital systems in the United States, surely they can take a stand, dip into their pockets and reach out to donors in order to continue providing critical services to transgender children.  When NYU-Langone first took over what was previously known as Lutheran Medical Center, the community expressed concern over quality healthcare to marginalized communities.  This move only intensifies our fears.

As of the time of this writing, neither hospital has announced any plans to refer the children to other providers in order to prevent the disruption of treatment.

We are grateful that Attorney General Letitia James has taken a stand.  On Monday, her office announced that complying with the Executive Order will violate state law.  Specifically, her letter warns providers that hospitals risk violating New York State’s anti-discrimination laws by denying care to pediatric transgender patients.  Thank you Tish, as always, for having our backs.  Tish is a Brooklynite who has stood up for the LGBTQ movement long before it was acceptable.  It’s time for Governor Hochul and other elected officials to do the same.  Importantly, it's time for NYU Langone and NY Presbyterian to grow a spine.  

In addition to calling your local electeds, LID encourages its members to call their local hospitals and request a commitment to continue providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth.  

NYC Health + Hospitals Woodhull
718-963-8000

NYC Health + Hospitals Kings County
718 245 3131

Brooklyn Hospital Center
718 250 8000

New York Methodist Hospital
718 780 3000

Wyckoff Heights Medical Center
718 963 7272

Coney Island Hospital
718 616 3000

Interfaith Medical Center
718 613 4000

NYU Lutheran Medical Center
718 630 7000

Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center
718 604 5000

Mount Sinai Brooklyn
718 252 3000

Calvary Hospital
718 630 6666

University Hospital SUNY Downstate
718 270 1000

LID knows that not all of these hospitals provide the same degree of care for the transgender persons as NYU Langone and NY Presbyterian.  But we still need to make sure that they continue to provide the highest standard of care toward transgender patients who come through their doors for any reason whatsoever.  This is a battle that we have been fighting for years, and cannot afford any setbacks.  Please call our local hospitals and remind them of their commitment to our communities.