Senator Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Harry Bronson introduced a new bill that will make New York a safe haven for transgender young people and their families. Across the country, states like Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, and Louisiana are proposing legislation in their statehouses to eliminate access to gender-affirming care and criminalize guardians and physicians who help transgender kids receive gender-affirming care.
Recent estimates show that 58,200 transgender youth are at risk of losing access to crucial care because of these discriminatory policies.
“New York should not sit idly by while the rights of thousands of kids are under attack nationwide,” said Senator Brad Hoylman. “Transgender young people and their guardians already face significant and demoralizing challenges navigating extreme discrimination and intolerance in our country. The least Albany can do is to ensure they will not be criminalized for simply being themselves. New York will always be a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community.”
“There is a hate-filled movement being carried out in some statehouses throughout this country to criminalize the core of a person’s identity. New York will not be complicit in this activity,” said Assemblymember Harry Bronson. “This legislation meets the moment and provides critical protections to those families fleeing states that do not recognize the inherent dignity and respect Trans children rightly deserve. To those who are without a safe home right now, come to New York State. We’re proud of our LGBTQ+ communities and you will always be safe here.”
The bill safeguards transgender youths and their families by:
- ensuring that kids will not be separated from their parents for aiding in their access to gender-affirming care,
- prohibiting law enforcement from cooperating with other states’ investigations regarding legal gender-affirming care,
- protecting the health information of people who come to New York to receive gender-affirming care, and
- protecting physicians who provide gender-affirming care in New York.
Research shows that access to gender-affirming care for transgender young people reduces risk of depression, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation.
Transgender young people already face extreme barriers when it comes to getting proper care: from stigma, to discrimination, systemic hurdles, and lack of insurance coverage for care.
Criminalizing guardians and physicians who help these young people receive this critical care makes the process even harder.
While other states regressively criminalize and roll back access to gender-affirming care, New York must pass progressive policies that protect trans kids and expand access to gender-affirming care.
This bill will help New York combat state policies that attempt to ban gender-affirming care and punish kids, their families, and their providers beyond their borders.
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