Trump's order led to a halt of care, a judge blocked it, but uncertainty remains for families and healthcare providers.
This article was reprinted with permission from Virginia Mercury.
The political battle over transgender health care has led Virginia families to scramble to ensure their children's care. Following an executive order from President Donald Trump, three Virginia hospitals have suspended gender-affirming care for minors, putting patients on edge. But now, at least one hospital has resumed services after a federal judge blocked the order, while others are pending.
University of Virginia Hospital has resumed gender maintenance care for patients under the age of 19, but a VCU Health suspension is in place in Richmond. A spokesman from the Children's Hospital of the King of Norfolk's King's Daughters did not respond to questions in comment.
“We are reviewing our orders to determine the appropriate course of action,” VCU Health Communications director Daniel Pierce said in an email Friday. “The doors (of the hospital) remain open and open for all patients and their families for screening, counseling and all medical needs that are not affected by the executive order.”
Advocacy groups are looking for immediate action. Virginia Equality, alongside various LGBTQ+ organizations, has signed a joint letter urging hospitals to resume care for minors.
“Virginians deserve healthcare that is rooted in healthcare integrity, legal protection and ethical responsibility, not political convenience,” they write.
Meanwhile, families have a hard time navigating uncertainty.
Sen. Danica Rohm, the first and only openly transgender member of the Virginia Legislature, said she is in touch with families trying to switch providers before the child's medication runs out.
“The kids and their families were panicked for weeks,” Rohm said.
As hospitals around Virginia navigate the fallout from the late January order, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares wasted no time seeking compliance.
He sent notes to UVA Health and VCU Health and advised them to immediately stop gender maintenance care for minors. By early February, CHKD announced that it would suspend those services following the lawsuit.
For Norfolk resident Lisa Suhei, the policy change is extremely frustrating. Her 21-year-old transgender daughter has not been directly affected, but she is worried about her family, which is now still scrambled, and hospitals caught up in a political cross.
“The goal of (Trump's) administration is to drive wedges between our healthcare community and the public,” Suhei said. “By enforcing these brutal decisions on the hospital, they will achieve that goal.”
Trump's order, which is temporarily blocked as legal challenges arise, requires federal agencies to “end chemical and surgical amputations of children.” I will instruct you to guarantee it.
Suhei said she believes the hospital should resist the orders, but she acknowledges the difficult position they are in.
“Parents screaming, “You need to resist for my child,” must have a hospital to go if their child has broken arms or has cancer.” She said.
