My reality as a trans man is constantly overshadowed by the discourse surrounding our rights—rights to healthcare, rights to safety, rights to our very identity. The uncertainty of the incoming administration in January has provoked a particular anxiety in me, as my right to gender affirming medical care, integral to my identity and well-being, might be under threat.

Gender affirming care is not a luxury; it is a necessity - a vital part of healthcare that provides many positive impacts on the lives of transgender and gender-diverse individuals. I ask those who read this petition to imagine if the tables were turned, and your ability to access necessary medical care was under threat of being stripped away. It's a disconcerting thought, isn't it?

A study by the American Psychological Association found that receipt of puberty blockers and gender affirming hormones are associated with lower risk of suicide and mental health problems in the long term among transgender adults. (American Psychological Association, 2020) Yet, despite these critical findings, our access to such care could potentially be rescinded in the near future.

This is why we must act. We need to definitively legalize gender affirming care for all consenting adults and teenagers with parental consent. By doing so, we empower individuals to be comfortable in their own skin, lower mental health risks, and essentially save lives. Help ensure that people like me—people who only desire the chance to live authentically—don't lose their right to necessary medical care. Please, sign this petition today.