Across Massachusetts, hospitals and clinics have stopped providing gender-affirming care (GAC) to transgender youth. They are still giving these exact same treatments to cisgender kids, creating a discriminatory double standard. This sudden loss of care has had devastating effects for families and children:  We have heard devastating stories of families forced to cross state lines, or even return to hostile red states, just to seek basic medical care. Other children have had their transitions entirely disrupted because well-meaning but confused parents assumed the care was no longer safe or legal when their trusted local clinic abruptly cut off access.  Even some families who have been able to transfer their care to other providers have been placed on long waiting lists or forced to re-start a months-long clinical intake process before resuming care.

When we met with Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office, they admitted that stopping this care is illegal under state law. This pre-emptive denial of care directly violates two foundational state laws: the Public Accommodations Law, which prohibits gender identity discrimination, and the Massachusetts Shield Law, enacted specifically to protect gender-affirming care. Even after federal courts struck down unlawful federal threats, Massachusetts providers refuse to bring it back, and the state isn't forcing them to follow the rules. When did Massachusetts become a state that protects hospitals over children?

Massachusetts laws were built to protect trans youth and stop medical discrimination, but those laws mean nothing without enforcement. Attorney General Campbell must stop protecting hospitals, do her job, and step up to enforce our civil rights laws immediately. No child should be denied medically necessary care because of who they are.