Protesters did not mince words when it came to their step back on providing services to youth in the transgender community; in fact, they railed that it was a clear tactic to “bend the knee” to the Trump administration in an effort to secure further funding. Yet those negatively affected by the move say a lack of access to gender-affirming care could cause serious mental health concerns, even suicide for some.
According to Sam, a 17-year-old female-to-male transgender boy, access to this kind of medical treatment gave him hope for his life and prevented him from spiraling into a dangerous depression.
“If 12-year-old me didn’t have the hope of one day being able to receive gender affirming care as a youth through Mount Sinai’s gender-affirming care program, I wouldn’t be standing here telling you my story today. Gender-affirming care saves lives, it saved my life,” Sam said. “Please, Mount Sinai, do what’s right and protect trans youth. Please don’t take our lifeline away.”
amNewYork reached out to Mount Sinai for comment and is awaiting a response.
According to several other trans youth members, the hospital had been quietly discontinuing care for young trans individuals for more than a year. The teens say they had been attempting to set up medical appointments since 2015 but instead hit a brick wall of either being ignored outright or promised a callback that never came.
Yet when they turned 18, they told amNewYork that they were suddenly accepted to the program.
Demonstrators on Tuesday evening carried signs and chanted from megaphones, pleading with the hospital to reconsider its stance. Some even wept. Members of the transgender community shared their stories and even took their hormone treatment on the street in protest.
Parents also expressed concern for their children’s well-being. Angelica Jadunandan moved to the Big Apple from Florida several years ago and says her daughter came out as trans when she was four years old. Although she said she hoped that her daughter would not need gender affirming care, she said she would do anything to make her happy.
“I was raised in a conservative Christian house. I did not know a lot about transgender people, so I did what I always do. I read, and I bought the books, and I joined the groups. And what I learned was so simple: That trans kids have better outcomes when they are loved and supported,” Jadunandan said. “To Mount Sinai and all of the spineless cowards who have bent the knee to the clowns in charge, the boot you lick today will stomp on you tomorrow.”
