Originally published on the Children’s Miracle Network.
Pride Month is here and as some in-person celebrations resume, political leaders across the country have introduced a record number of legislative bills targeting the very LGBTQ+ rights Pride Month honors.
Among those called into question is the right of transgender and non-binary youth to access gender-affirming care, a form of healthcare that supports and affirms an individual’s gender identity and expression.
Legislation to ban gender-affirming care up to age 18 passed in Idaho and Montana in April. Around the same time, Washington state passed a shield law to protect people seeking, providing or helping others obtain reproductive or gender-affirming care in Washington. These bills affect patients and families as well as Seattle Children’s Gender Clinic care teams.
Gender-affirming care can include using a patient’s chosen name and pronouns as well as a range of medical interventions. The Gender Clinic, which opened in 2016, provides gender-affirming medical care for adolescents, including puberty blockers, gender-affirming hormones and mental health support.
By providing a welcoming and affirming care environment, everyone can play a role in creating a safe space and a positive healthcare experience for gender-diverse patients.
Resources:
- Seattle Children’s Gender Clinic
- Patient and Family Education – Seattle Children’s
- WA State Legislature – HB 1469 – 2023-24
