Latest news with #transgenderhealth
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
DoJ subpoenas more than 20 clinics and doctors who offer gender-affirming care to minors
The US Department of Justice said on Wednesday it had sent more than 20 subpoenas to clinics and doctors who offer gender-affirming care to minors. It was not immediately clear to whom the requests were sent and the kind of information that was requested. The US attorney general, Pam Bondi, issued a memo on 22 April saying the justice department would investigate and prosecute those who were providing transgender care to children. The memo instructed federal prosecutors 'to investigate all suspected cases of [female genital mutilation] – under the banner of so-called 'gender-affirming care' or otherwise-and to prosecute all FGM offenses to the fullest extent possible'. Several medical associations have said that transgender care can provide lifesaving treatment for both children and adults, the Guardian has reported. A 2022 study by researchers at Stanford University found better mental health outcomes for transgender people who started receiving hormone therapy as teens compared with those who waited until they were adults. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Bondi's April memo said the department would investigate manufacturers and distributors engaged in misbranding by making false claims about the on- or off-label use of puberty blockers, sex hormones or any other drug used to facilitate a child's gender transition. The department has yet to file charges against anyone in connection with providing transgender care. Nonetheless, the point of the investigation may be to intimidate those who provide care from doing so. 'It's meant to have a chilling effect on physicians providing access to necessary care, fearing that it will be characterized as chemical and surgical mutilation of children,' Robin Maril, a law professor at Willamette University, told NBC News in April. In a 6-3 decision last month, the US supreme court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. In total, 27 states have laws that limit gender-affirming care for minors, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
New York Times
19-06-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Court Leaves States to Decide on Trans Treatments for Minors
The Supreme Court on Wednesday handed to the states control over whether young people should have access to treatments for gender transition, preserving a patchwork of rules that has emerged across the country over the last five years. Since 2021, states have split nearly evenly over whether to prohibit or protect access to puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender adolescents. Like the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which made access to abortion dependent on which state a person lives in, the decision this week is likely to deepen the state-by-state divide over medical care for young trans people. Just as some states enacted more restrictive abortion limits after Dobbs, states that have enacted partial or total bans on transition treatment for minors may be emboldened to expand on them or enforce them more aggressively, said Brad Sears, a senior scholar at the Williams Institute, a U.C.L.A. program that studies L.G.B.T.Q. legal issues. And just as some states have enshrined reproductive rights in their constitutions, states that have enacted legal shields for health care workers who provide gender-transition treatments may push for more comprehensive protections. 'The reactions to the Dobbs decision are an appropriate place to go to see what might happen next,' Mr. Sears said. 'If you overlay a map of the states with bans and the states with shield laws, you're pretty much seeing two countries.' In some ways, medical providers and families of trans adolescents have already adjusted to a fragmented legal landscape as states passed disparate laws in the absence of an overarching legal decision. In contrast to Dobbs, the decision to uphold a Tennessee law banning treatments for transgender youths did not overturn a constitutional right that had been recognized for decades. In all but two states that have enacted bans, courts have allowed the limits to go into effect even as legal challenges proceeded. That has meant that some of an estimated 100,000 families with transgender children living in states with bans have moved to states that permit treatment. Other families have made arrangements to travel out of state for treatments. Many patients in Southern states where treatments are banned, for instance, travel to Virginia, while those in the Midwest often go to Minnesota. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CNN
03-06-2025
- Health
- CNN
Judge blocks Trump from cutting off gender-affirming care for federal inmates
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to continue providing gender-affirming medication for transgender inmates in federal prisons, dealing the latest blow to a multi-pronged effort by the president to pull back federal support for transgender health care. 'All parties seem to agree that the named plaintiffs do, in fact, need hormone therapy,' US District Judge Royce Lamberth wrote. The preliminary injunction from Lamberth means that officials within the Bureau of Prisons cannot enforce guidance the agency's leadership issued earlier this year implementing President Donald Trump's order, which directed the agency to revise its policies to 'ensure that no Federal funds are expended for any medical procedure, treatment, or drug for the purpose of conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex.' Lamberth, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, said a group of transgender inmates who had been medically diagnosed with gender dysphoria and who challenged BOP's guidance implementing the president's order were likely to succeed on their claim that the agency violated federal rulemaking procedures. They will continue to receive drugs as prescribed, the judge said. 'Nothing in the thin record before the Court suggests that either the BOP or the President consciously took stock of—much less studied—the potentially debilitating effects that the new policies could have on transgender inmates before the implementing memoranda came into force,' Lamberth wrote in the 36-page ruling. 'The BOP may not arbitrarily deprive inmates of medications or other lifestyle accommodations that its own medical staff have deemed to be medically appropriate without considering he implications of that decision.' Though the case was originally brought by three transgender inmates, Lamberth agreed to certify a class that consists of all federal inmates who are currently taking hormone therapy medication to treat their diagnosis of gender dysphoria, defined as the psychological distress an individual feels when their gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. Not every transgender individual has gender dysphoria. There are currently about 1,000 people in federal custody who are diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Lamberth noted that the BOP was continuing to give more than 600 inmates their prescribed hormone therapy medications, despite Trump's prior order. The Justice Department had tried to explain how the BOP was acting differently than the order said they should, Lamberth noted. A federal government lawyer at a recent hearing 'argued that the BOP's policy is to provide hormone therapy to inmates as necessary to address medical needs other than 'conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex,' such as to ameliorate anxiety, depression, or suicidality associated with gender dysphoria. Therefore, they argue, the BOP has the authority to provide not just some relief, but the very relief that the plaintiffs sought in their Complaint—to wit, restoration of their hormone therapy.' The case so far has highlighted the changing reality transgender inmates in federal prisons have faced since Trump took office in January. Three different inmates — Alishea Kingdom, Solo Nichols and Jas Kapule — sued because they had been receiving hormone therapy where they were held and also had gained access to some supplies, such as underwear and cosmetics, that would enable them to accommodate their genders. Kingdom is a transgender woman and was able to access feminine underwear and commissary items in addition to her hormone therapy medication, while Nichols and Kapule were able to have men's boxers and chest binders. The BOP stopped Kingdom's hormone therapy in February, causing her anxiety, hopelessness, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts, she told the court. But once she and the others filed the lawsuit, her hormone therapy was restored, Lamberth noted. Nichols similarly had his testosterone injections reduced in February, until the BOP reversed course and restored the full dosage by the end of that month, court filings say. Kapule never lost access to hormone therapy, according to the court records. The judge in the case decided the three inmates would suffer irreparable harm if he didn't step in with this ruling, according to his opinion. CNN has reached out to BOP for comment on the ruling.
CNN
03-06-2025
- Health
- CNN
Judge blocks Trump from cutting off gender-affirming care for federal inmates
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to continue providing gender-affirming medication for transgender inmates in federal prisons, dealing the latest blow to a multi-pronged effort by the president to pull back federal support for transgender health care. 'All parties seem to agree that the named plaintiffs do, in fact, need hormone therapy,' US District Judge Royce Lamberth wrote. The preliminary injunction from Lamberth means that officials within the Bureau of Prisons cannot enforce guidance the agency's leadership issued earlier this year implementing President Donald Trump's order, which directed the agency to revise its policies to 'ensure that no Federal funds are expended for any medical procedure, treatment, or drug for the purpose of conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex.' Lamberth, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, said a group of transgender inmates who had been medically diagnosed with gender dysphoria and who challenged BOP's guidance implementing the president's order were likely to succeed on their claim that the agency violated federal rulemaking procedures. They will continue to receive drugs as prescribed, the judge said. 'Nothing in the thin record before the Court suggests that either the BOP or the President consciously took stock of—much less studied—the potentially debilitating effects that the new policies could have on transgender inmates before the implementing memoranda came into force,' Lamberth wrote in the 36-page ruling. 'The BOP may not arbitrarily deprive inmates of medications or other lifestyle accommodations that its own medical staff have deemed to be medically appropriate without considering he implications of that decision.' Though the case was originally brought by three transgender inmates, Lamberth agreed to certify a class that consists of all federal inmates who are currently taking hormone therapy medication to treat their diagnosis of gender dysphoria, defined as the psychological distress an individual feels when their gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. Not every transgender individual has gender dysphoria. There are currently about 1,000 people in federal custody who are diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Lamberth noted that the BOP was continuing to give more than 600 inmates their prescribed hormone therapy medications, despite Trump's prior order. The Justice Department had tried to explain how the BOP was acting differently than the order said they should, Lamberth noted. A federal government lawyer at a recent hearing 'argued that the BOP's policy is to provide hormone therapy to inmates as necessary to address medical needs other than 'conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex,' such as to ameliorate anxiety, depression, or suicidality associated with gender dysphoria. Therefore, they argue, the BOP has the authority to provide not just some relief, but the very relief that the plaintiffs sought in their Complaint—to wit, restoration of their hormone therapy.' The case so far has highlighted the changing reality transgender inmates in federal prisons have faced since Trump took office in January. Three different inmates — Alishea Kingdom, Solo Nichols and Jas Kapule — sued because they had been receiving hormone therapy where they were held and also had gained access to some supplies, such as underwear and cosmetics, that would enable them to accommodate their genders. Kingdom is a transgender woman and was able to access feminine underwear and commissary items in addition to her hormone therapy medication, while Nichols and Kapule were able to have men's boxers and chest binders. The BOP stopped Kingdom's hormone therapy in February, causing her anxiety, hopelessness, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts, she told the court. But once she and the others filed the lawsuit, her hormone therapy was restored, Lamberth noted. Nichols similarly had his testosterone injections reduced in February, until the BOP reversed course and restored the full dosage by the end of that month, court filings say. Kapule never lost access to hormone therapy, according to the court records. The judge in the case decided the three inmates would suffer irreparable harm if he didn't step in with this ruling, according to his opinion. CNN has reached out to BOP for comment on the ruling.
Globe and Mail
30-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Letters to the editor, May 30: ‘If the price of my house stabilizes or even falls, I'll be delighted'
Re 'Throne Speech pledge to find public-service savings alarms labour leaders' (May 28): Mark Carney was elected as Prime Minister in large part because of the perception he has the skills and experience to lead Canada through the difficult economic times ahead. Before the ink was even dry on the throne speech, some labour leaders have expressed concerns over his proposal to find savings in the public service. He hopes to balance the operating budget by cutting waste, capping the public service, ending duplication and deploying technology, all in an effort to improve productivity. There are no proposals for massive layoffs or indiscriminate firings, as we have witnessed with DOGE and Elon Musk to the south. All I can say is give Mark Carney some slack to come up with a successful overall economic strategy before condemning individual policies. Michael Gilman Toronto Re 'Canadian Medical Association to file legal challenge over Alberta law limiting access to treatment for transgender youth' (May 28): This is not the first time the Alberta government has interfered with the doctor-patient relationship. Several years ago, it directed what could or could not be prescribed to another vulnerable group: drug users. Had the Canadian Medical Association stepped in at that point, perhaps the United Conservative Party would have stopped there. But now: Which vulnerable group is next? Robyn Kalda Toronto Re 'To make housing more affordable, drop the tax hammer on real estate investors' (Report on Business, May 27): The housing crisis should have been seen as an example of expecting too much from the housing market. Markets rely on supply and demand to determine price. Those who need housing must be able to pay market price. This is how markets work, so why do we expect it to provide any form of housing to those who can't afford to buy or rent? Governments should accept that it is their responsibility to provide for basic needs beyond one's capacity to pay, through regulations and by devoting resources exclusively to non-market housing. There are a great many ways to successfully integrate public and co-operative housing into neighbourhoods. The private sector would build them all, and make profit doing so, but never collect rent or profit once built. Bill Jennings Kingston Houses as investments have made prices skyrocket. Tax breaks for these owners now feel like obscenities: We should end write-offs for mortgage interest and fully tax capital gains. Investors own roughly one-quarter of houses in Canada. They have been the keenest buyers, driving prices up and up and up. I am in my 70s and, like so many boomers, entered the housing market back when houses were reasonably priced. If the price of my house stabilizes or even falls, I'll be delighted. I want the next generation to have the opportunity I had to own a house. Houses should be for living in, not juicy investments. Jack Hanna Ottawa In the 41 years that I have owned my house, by my calculations, prices in my area have increased an average of about 6.5 per cent a year, while wage growth has averaged much less. Until those curves converge or, better still, cross, I don't understand how the problem will be solved. William Love Burlington, Ont. Re 'Corporate property owners fueling housing rent increases in Toronto' (Report on Business, May 21): The vast majority of Ontario rental units are subject to rent control, with rent increases tightly regulated. Recent reports – even from our members – show that rents in some areas, including the Greater Toronto Area, have begun to decrease, showing market forces at work: Supply and demand, not individual providers, set rental prices. While valid concerns about affordability are raised, it's vital to recognize the role all rental housing providers play in meeting demand for quality homes. Focusing solely on real estate investment trusts or institutional owners overlooks the broader reality: Market dynamics drive price fluctuations, not business models. Addressing affordability requires an all-hands-on-deck approach by all levels of government. Streamlining approvals, reducing costs and supporting investment will help bring more housing to market. Blaming professional housing providers distracts from the real, collective action needed for lasting solutions. Tony Irwin President and CEO, Rental Housing Canada; Toronto Re 'Public good' (Letters, May 22): A letter-writer advises that 'we who contribute gladly to medical training should have a significant role in dictating how doctors are paid.' One could substitute any number of professions here: lawyers, veterinarians, accountants, architects, engineers, to name a few. Members of these other professions have multiple options for remuneration in their careers. They may have private practices; they may bill government; they may work in either private industry or government for a salary; they may do contract work, etc. All of this liberty, despite the public purse funding a significant percentage of their education costs. Why single out the medical profession with this type of medieval criticism? Anyone who has received a postsecondary education in this country has benefited from government underwriting a significant percentage of that education. This idea is an extremely old chestnut, long past its best-before date, and should be put to bed. K. M. Peckan MD; Waterloo, Ont. Re 'Sir John A. Macdonald statue to be uncovered at Queen's Park, sparking new tensions with First Nations' (May 28): I was disappointed to see that some opponents of uncovering the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald are warning that further vandalizing or even toppling could follow. Those genuinely seeking reconciliation should recognize that it is a two-way street. Macdonald's faults have been acknowledged, but then so have his enormous achievements, not least his role in the creation of the country we love and enjoy today. Can we not find a way to have these perspectives peacefully co-exist? A wise poet once observed that 'to err is human, to forgive divine.' Scott James Toronto While, like all of us, Sir John A. Macdonald had his flaws, he was a great man and the founder of this fine country. Let us move resolutely from self-flagellation to taking pride in our history. Biff Matthews Toronto There is no doubt that Sir John A. Macdonald drank too much and his views of Indigenous people were at odds with today's opinions. Still, he is the father of our country and deserves perpetual recognition for that. If we need a police officer there 24/7, it would be worth it to see him again. A. P. Bell Toronto Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@
