SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington’s Attorney General Nick Brown is filing a lawsuit to block President Donald Trump’s executive order prohibiting federal funds from being used on gender affirming care for people under 19 years old.
“This president’s order is gross, it is disgusting, it is hateful,” Brown said. “We will always take actions against illegal conduct.”
Brown says this executive order targets an already marginalized group. One University of Washington students says gender affirming care saved their life.
“I often felt suicidal at a very young age, feeling that I would rather die than go through male puberty,” said Iuna Crone-Baron. “It’s because of the overwhelming love and support from my family and my ability to get the care I need from my doctor that I am able to be here today.”
Members of Spokane’s transgender community applaud the state’s efforts to fight Trump’s order.
Louis Stay, executive director of Trans Spokane, acknowledges this is life-altering care, but not for the reason you might think.
“I think a lot of people don’t really know they know a trans person,” Stay said. “I know a lot of people in my own life that don’t know I’m trans.”
Stay transitioned when he was 19. He said it was a journey trying to navigate puberty while also not feeling connected with his gender assigned at birth.
“A lot of youth don’t have access to a community that is there to support them and that leads to isolation, negative mental health effects and unfortunately, a lot of suicide as well,” Stay said.
He said gender affirming care resources were vital in trying to understand who he is. It’s not as simple as walking into a clinic and receiving life-altering treatment.
“It’s not like they’re just handing out gender affirming care willie nillie to everyone who wants it,” he said. “It’s a rigorous medical process with doctors and the family. All we’re asking for is for the government not to be involved.”
Stay says Washington’s lawsuit to curb the executive order sends a strong message of support to the transgender community, particularly in a time when it’s hard to find secure footing.
The transgender community makes up a fraction of the global population. Stay encourages people who stand opposed or are uncertain to open a dialogue.
“Interact with us, have conversations. Because we’re not this scary monster that is waiting for you, we’re here to have those conversations,” he said.
Trump asserted in the order that “medical professionals are maiming and sterilizing a growing number of impressionable children under the radical and false claim that adults can change a child’s sex.”
At least 26 states have passed laws to restrict or ban this type of care for minors. The Supreme Court has heard arguments on this topic but has yet to make a decision.
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