VCU Health will be suspending gender affirming care for patients aged 19 and younger to abide by President Donald Trump’s executive order to cease transgender healthcare.

VCU Health has a responsibility to care for our community’s transgender youth. Transgender youth have higher rates of depression, suicidality, self harm, and eating disorders compared to their cisgender peers. Clinical guidelines from professional medical organizations promote supportive interventions for minors in need of gender affirming care. Current evidence has shown it is best practice to offer counseling, gender affirming hormone therapy, prescription medication, social transitioning, and/or surgical interventions.

We are writing to you today urging you to reinstate gender affirming care at VCU Health. VCU Health made a promise to the Richmond community to preserve and restore health for all people of Virginia and beyond through innovation in service, research, and education. VCU Health also committed to create a community that recognizes and embraces and that does not tolerate or condone discrimination. We are calling for these powerful statements to be backed up by powerful actions. 

It is incumbent on VCU Health to provide care to all people. Please continue to care for the transgender youth of our community and reinstate best practice care.

Respectfully,