INTRO

Happy Monday and welcome back to Well Beings News! This week we're tracking major developments across the healthcare landscape—from new population data showing nearly 3 million Americans identify as transgender, to research revealing how political climates directly impact mental health, to community responses emerging as families navigate an increasingly complex care environment. The research section is particularly rich this week, with insights on everything from cardiovascular disparities to innovative mental health interventions.

Quick reminder: we're in the final stretch of our reader raise and we need $235 more in monthly subscription income to hit our goal and get this project in the black with a marketing budget to spare. That's about 20-25 new subscribers, or only 10% of current readers. If this newsletter helps you stay informed and grounded, please consider upgrading—it's how we keep this work independent and focused on what you actually need to know.

NEWS

Healthcare Infrastructure Continues to Collapse Under Federal Pressure

The systematic dismantling of transgender healthcare access reached a devastating milestone this week: at least 21 hospitals have ended or restricted trans care for minors since January. NBC News analysis found that twelve hospitals have discontinued puberty blockers and hormone therapy for trans patients younger than 19, while four announced they are no longer providing transition-related surgeries.

The human cost is immediate and personal. Lee, a 17-year-old transgender teen in Pennsylvania, now faces "a specific target on my head" as he grapples with UPMC's sudden halt of gender-affirming services. Within a month of losing access to puberty blockers, Lee was experiencing hot flashes he hadn't felt since starting treatment two years earlier. Despite care remaining legal in Pennsylvania, UPMC cited compliance with Trump's January executive order.

The ripple effects extend across state lines. Connecticut families are struggling to find care after recent hospital closures, with many now traveling out of state for essential medical services. Daniel Heumann, who began transitioning at Connecticut Children's at age 11, worries about other trans kids: "The people I know that have been relying on Connecticut Children's to receive their care are terrified, because it's the same way I was when I was younger. I mean, this care is what saves kids."

Even in states trying to maintain access, the pressure is mounting. Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings urged Nemours Children's Hospital to reconsider restrictions after the hospital halted new admissions for transgender youth care, warning of harm to mental health and striking an aspirational tone about physicians who "risked life and liberty to uphold patient care."

Some resistance is emerging from unexpected quarters. Mental health workers at Kaiser Permanente are protesting the pause on gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19, with the National Union of Healthcare Workers advocating for patient rights against federal pressure.

Federal Investigation Machine Expands

The Trump administration's targeting of transgender healthcare has escalated into what legal experts call an unprecedented investigation. The Justice Department is demanding hospitals provide sensitive information about medical care for transgender minors, including billing details, doctors' notes, voicemails, encrypted text messages, and personal data like addresses and Social Security numbers. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced more than 20 subpoenas last month, accusing medical professionals of "mutilating children."

Government demands for trans care info include addresses, doctors' notes, and texts, with one subpoena to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia requesting records going back to 2020. A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to provide details about these subpoenas after hospitals warned of harmful impacts on patient privacy and access to care. Hospital staff described potential "traumatic" effects if forced to provide patient information, while DOJ called the claims "meritless."

This is at its root systematic intimidation designed to shut down care entirely. As we've seen with the hospital closures, the mere threat of federal investigation is enough to force institutions to abandon their transgender patients.

State-Level Attacks Multiply

Beyond federal pressure, states are implementing their own restrictions with alarming speed. Alaska's State Medical Board approved draft measures to discipline medical professionals who provide gender-affirming care for transgender minors, citing "unprofessional conduct" despite widespread healthcare professional opposition.

The attacks extend well beyond medical care. Texas Senate passed a broad transgender bathroom ban targeting individuals in publicly funded institutions, including schools, airports, and government buildings. The law empowers individual Texans to interrogate another person's sex or gender and allows the attorney general or private citizens to sue institutions they accuse of permitting transgender people into certain spaces. As Texas ACLU policy strategist Ash Hall warned: "The only way anyone is going to realistically try to enforce this is by looking at a person and deciding they don't look quite 'feminine' or 'masculine' enough."

Pennsylvania isn't immune to these pressures. Berwick Area School Board advanced policies requiring staff to address students by legal names only and restricting bathroom access based on biological sex. One community member warned: "My child is not going to feel safe at school because of this policy. This is life and death." These bathroom bans represent a direct healthcare issue—they create barriers to accessing safe facilities and contribute to the broader marginalization that impacts mental health and wellbeing.

Even traditionally supportive states face challenges. North Carolina Democrats passed anti-trans laws despite previous promises to support trans rights, with eight Democratic representatives joining Republicans to support anti-trans measures. The piece documents how "North Carolina Democrats, like their colleagues around the country and their predecessors all the way back to segregation, will not yield an inch until the costs become too high for them to do anything else."

Funding as Weaponization

The administration is using federal funding as a weapon against transgender inclusion. HHS canceled California's $12 million sex education grant after the state refused to remove gender identity lessons from curriculum. The Trump administration cut the California grant over transgender policies, affecting programs that serve at-risk youth including those experiencing homelessness or in foster care. Experts warn this endangers all at-risk kids by limiting access to comprehensive sexual health resources.

The cuts extend to research and employee benefits. The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to cut nearly $800 million in NIH grants focused on minority, gay, and transgender community health research, while Lambda Legal condemned the administration's illegal exclusion of gender-affirming care from federal employee health benefits starting in 2026.

At the state level, transgender Louisianians on Medicaid are facing denials for gender-affirming care, particularly hormone replacement therapy, often learning of coverage changes only when arriving at pharmacies. The Trans Income Project has partnered with CrescentCare to provide medications for those losing coverage.

Refuge, Resistance, and Community Response

Despite the coordinated attacks, some states are stepping up as safe havens. Massachusetts is emerging as a refuge for transgender youth seeking healthcare as New Hampshire implements its ban on gender-affirming care. Thirteen-year-old Luke Boisvert was among the last minors in New Hampshire to start testosterone injections before the ban. His mother Jenny explained he began questioning his gender identity in fourth grade and has Turner syndrome, meaning he would not have been able to go through puberty as a female without taking estrogen.

Families are making difficult decisions to relocate. Lisa Thornton moved with her daughter from Tampa Bay to Boston in December to access care at Fenway Health, while some New Hampshire families are buying "Plan B" houses across the Massachusetts border in case they need to relocate.

Legal challenges continue mounting. Colorado's Attorney General urged the Supreme Court to uphold the state's conversion therapy ban for minors, part of ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable young people from harmful practices.

In response to the crisis, community organizations are stepping up. The Emergency Response Checklist designed for parents and caregivers of trans minors addresses federal privacy threats, highlighting critical areas like legal protection, medical record security, and digital safety.

The Bigger Picture

The scale of what we're witnessing is unprecedented. New data showing 1 in 30 U.S. teens identify as transgender—nearly 3 million Americans—comes at a moment when political shifts threaten the very collection of transgender-related data. The UCLA Williams Institute warns that future data collection may decline, impacting visibility and understanding of trans youth needs precisely when such information is most crucial.

Meanwhile, Canada's DemocracyXChange 2025 Summit focused on advancing rights for trans and gender diverse individuals, emphasizing community building and advocacy—a reminder that the fight for transgender rights extends beyond U.S. borders and requires sustained international solidarity.

We are facing a coordinated, multi-front assault on transgender healthcare access, privacy, and basic dignity. But we're also seeing unprecedented resistance from healthcare workers, legal advocates, community organizations, and families who refuse to abandon the transgender people in their lives. Stay with us.

GOOD READS

These aren't breaking news stories, but they're recently published pieces worth your time—from policy analysis to essential health information to thought-provoking perspectives on gender and technology.

After Cutting Gender-Affirming Care For Federal Employees, the Trump Administration's Endgame For Trans Healthcare Approaches
Analysis of the Trump administration's broader strategy beyond federal employee health cuts, examining the inclusion of "faith-based" counseling and implications for trans healthcare access nationwide.

Are trans women at risk of prostate cancer?
Essential health information on prostate cancer risk for trans women, covering the effects of gender-affirming treatments, screening needs, and the importance of inclusive healthcare approaches.

Can 'AI therapists' help save LGBTQ+ people?
Exploring AI therapy as a potential solution to the shortage of culturally competent therapists for LGBTQ+ individuals, with expert insights on benefits, limitations, and safety considerations.

Why "biological sex" is not real
A thorough examination of why the concept of strict biological sex binaries doesn't align with scientific reality, addressing the spectrum of human biological characteristics and the legitimacy of transgender identities.

DIGEST

Last week at Well Beings News:

WHY UPGRADE