Transgender Families Consider Moving to Different States for Medical Care

Many families with transgender children are thinking about moving to different states. They want to find places where their kids can get the medical care they need. President Trump has made new rules that make this care harder to get. These rules affect young people under 19 years old who are transgender.

When President Trump started his second term, he signed an order to limit gender-affirming care. This type of care helps transgender people feel more comfortable with their bodies. Twenty-seven states, mostly led by Republican leaders, already had rules restricting this care. A judge has temporarily stopped the new order, but the government keeps trying to ban more treatments.

Harleigh Walker is a 19-year-old transgender girl from Alabama. She had to leave her home state to go to college in Maryland. She chose Maryland because it protects access to gender-affirming care. Her family still talks every day about maybe moving to another state or even leaving the country.

A new survey by the Trevor Project shows Harleigh's story is common. The Trevor Project helps LGBTQ+ young people who need support. They asked 16,000 young people between ages 13 and 24 about their experiences. Nearly one-third said they or their families were thinking about moving to a different state for care.

Gender-affirming care can include many different things. Sometimes it means using a different name or pronouns. Other times it includes medicines that block puberty or hormones. Most major medical groups support this type of care and say it can save lives.