Essentia Health stopped providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth in 2026, and a new lawsuit says that decision broke Minnesota law. Essentia CEO Dr. David Herman and the health system’s leadership can fix this now by restoring care and following the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a trans teen, called John Doe in court papers, and his family. He told his family he was a boy back in preschool. When puberty began, his distress grew so severe that he attempted suicide at age 10, according to the filings. Doctors at Essentia then treated him, first with puberty blockers and later with hormone therapy. Court filings say that care saved his life, and that he grew into a thriving student who loves theater and choir.

Then, early in 2026, Essentia administrators reportedly began telling doctors privately that this care would wind down. Families say they heard the news secondhand and had little time to find new providers. When Doe learned his care could end, he told his mother, “Mom, I’ll die,” according to the lawsuit as reported by Erin in the Morning.

The family’s lawsuit argues that Essentia discriminated based on gender identity and disability, which the Minnesota Human Rights Act forbids. “State laws, like the Minnesota Human Rights Act, can and do continue to protect trans youth from discrimination, regardless of federal attacks on the trans community,” said Greta Wiessner, senior staff attorney at Gender Justice, which represents the family.

Minnesota law protects every patient equally. Essentia should restore care for the trans young people it dropped and give families clear, honest answers about their treatment.

Sign the petition to tell Essentia Health to follow Minnesota law and restore care for trans youth before more families are left without a doctor.