Plume Clinic’s Post

This right here.

Yesterday, I testified -- on behalf of Equitas Health -- to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) of the Ohio General Assembly. As a reminder, JCARR is currently reviewing the anti-trans administrative rules proposed by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (MHAS), and the Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Yesterday, they recommended the approval of 2 of these anti-trans rules, and the remaining 5 anti-trans rules were marked as TBR (to be refiled) for a later date. For the latest updates on the fight to protect gender affirming care in Ohio, click on the link below. https://lnkd.in/e8hJrMv5 #LGBT #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #LGBTQIAPlus #Transgender #NonBinary #GenderDiversity #Intersex #Queer #QueerCommunity #GenderAffirmingCare #Healthcare #Health #Medical #MedicalCare #PublicHealth #PublicAffairs #PublicLaw #CurrentAffairs #CurrentEvents #Law #Legal #Rules #Advocacy #Government #GovernmentRelations #GovernmentRegulations #Ohio #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #DEI #DiversityEquityInclusion #Belonging #DiversityEquityInclusionBelonging #DEIB

The wave of anti-trans #legislation and violence targeting gender-affirming care providers is a chilling echo of the anti-abortion playbook. These efforts are causing a culture of #fear among both #patients and #healthcare providers, leading to an alarming lack of #GenderAffirming care options. This disproportionately affects #TransYouth, who are already grappling with numerous barriers to accessing the care they need. Anti-trans activists employ tactics such as picketing outside #medical facilities, sending harassing messages, issuing bomb threats, and making death threats to intimidate healthcare providers. The result is a culture of fear seeping into the trans #healthcare landscape. One healthcare provider, who has worked in both #abortion and gender-affirming care, noted the similarity in the atmosphere of fear generated by anti-trans and anti-abortion #activists. The threats and violence create a "culture of fear" for patients and providers. The consequences of this culture of fear are alarming for trans people seeking gender-affirming care. Already confronted with lengthy wait times and significant barriers, the situation is worsening as providers are forced to operate in stealth mode. #Patients, particularly trans youth seeking #PubertyBlockers or other gender-affirming treatments, are left in a vulnerable position. In some places, the waiting periods for #surgeries are already one to two years. These delays will likely increase, contributing to elevated #mental and physical distress for trans people. #Harassment is particularly pronounced among behavioral health providers and nurse practitioners, who face threatening social media posts, phone calls, and even #protesters picketing outside their facilities. This hostile environment makes it challenging for these providers to offer essential care to their trans patients. Children's hospitals are crucial in providing care for trans children, adolescents, and adults in many states. However, as this campaign of harassment intensifies, children's hospitals have removed or altered information about gender-affirming care on their websites. Some hospitals have ceased providing gender-affirming care or specific procedures. This leaves trans patients in a dangerous position. The reluctance of larger institutions to support gender-affirming care providers makes it even worse. #Hospitals should be at the forefront of #protecting and providing gender-affirming care. The onus is on these institutions to create a unified front with their providers, sending a clear message that they are committed to providing essential care to trans people. Trans people deserve the right to access healthcare without fearing harassment, violence, and abandonment. The fight for #equitable access to gender-affirming care must continue, and those with the power to make a difference should act to protect the #rights and well-being of trans people, especially the most vulnerable among them.

Did you know cisgender people are the largest consumers of gender-affirming care? 👀 In 2024, gender-affirming care faces unprecedented legislative attacks, reflecting a disturbing trend towards rolling back the rights and protections of trans and non-binary individuals. Across various jurisdictions, laws are being proposed and, in some cases, enacted, that severely restrict access to vital gender-affirming treatments and procedures. These legislative efforts not only undermine the autonomy and dignity of trans people but also contradict the overwhelming consensus of medical and psychological professionals who affirm the necessity and efficacy of such care. By targeting healthcare provisions, these laws jeopardize the well-being and safety of trans youth and adults, casting a shadow over their right to live authentically and receive supportive, life-saving medical attention. This legislative attack on gender-affirming care is a clear signal that the fight for 2SLGBTQ+ rights and recognition is far from over, demanding renewed vigilance and activism to protect the most vulnerable among us. 1️⃣ DEMAND lawmakers vote no on bans for gender-affirming care. 2️⃣ EDUCATE others on the importance of gender-affirming care which is supported by major organizations like American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, and the Endocrine Society 3️⃣ ELEVATE gender-affirming care funds, crowd shares, and trans-led health organizations like… 💥 For The Gworls 💥 QueerDoc 💥 NQTTCN 💥 Transhealth Shout out to trans health providers too! Tag your favorite funds, orgs, and providers in the comments to build a community resource list! 🎨 Art by Ash + Chess Thank you to @trans_week creators Chase Strangio, Raquel Willis, and Kyle Lasky for years of organizing TWOVA! #activeallyship #TWOVA #TransWeek #TransWeekOfVisibilityandAction

Summary of TransActual’s initial response to the Cass Review Final Report: It is disappointing that the Cass Review will not, overall, accomplish its stated goals of ensuring a high standard of care for young people who need gender identity support and instead pulls the UK further from international best practices. TransActual welcome that the Report states that trans children need high quality, holistic, personal and timely care which meets their needs. We welcome the call that medical practice in this area should be of high quality and not one-size-fits all. The thing that matters most to trans children and young people will be how NHS England decides to respond to the Report. We have a number of concerns in relation to that. We’re working on our partners in the sector to respond more fully and in detail to what is a very long report. The Review recommends a review of adult gender services. NHS England have announced that they will be initiating such a review. It is important to note that no changes have yet been proposed in relation to adult services. TransActual and other organisations have begun conversations around this matter. This news will be hard to hear for many trans people. We wish to offer trans people of all ages the reassurance that we and many others are working for a world where trans people can live safely, with dignity and with appropriate access to healthcare. Full statement: https://lnkd.in/e7GcJheK

This piece in the Guardian raises important concerns about patient privacy and trust as the UK government pushes forward with plans for a vast new centralised database of NHS patient records. Patients need reassurance that their sensitive health information will be safeguarded and used only for appropriate purposes. Maintaining strong legal safeguards over health data is critical. There are also valid questions about the role of private tech firms in managing such sensitive data. Rather than a top-down approach, we need meaningful public consultation to shape data governance that patients can trust. Transparency, accountability and empowering individual choice must be central principles. #DataPrivacy #NHS #HealthDataManagement #Trust #PatientPrivacy

"Sixteen state attorneys general from various #Republican -led states, including #Texas, #Florida and #Kentucky, are threatening to sue #Maine if it proceeds with a bill aimed at protecting #healthcare providers offering gender-affirming care to patients from states where such care is prohibited...at least 17 states and the District of Columbia have already enacted similar ‘shield laws... 35 percent of the transgender population aged 13 and above reside in states with “shield” laws in place...Additionally, 8 percent of transgender individuals reside in states with executive orders implementing similar gender-affirming care “shield” measures...Without shield laws in place, states may investigate transgender patients who go out of state for access to gender-affirming care."#LD227 https://lnkd.in/exAAvy76

Children have the fundamental right to be protected from medicalised gender change and should be encouraged to “love and accept their bodies,” according to a historic resolution embraced by the national committee of America’s Republican Party. #GenderClinics #Medical #Politics #EvidenceBasedPractice Read my latest article ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ https://lnkd.in/dvX9PrQe

Well, this is going to be an absolute goldmine for lawyers representing clients holding a Gender Recognition Certificate, isn’t it? 🤔 Much support to all my trans brothers & sisters out there; the vast majority of the NHS is there to support you, not demonise you! 🏳️⚧️ One for you, Good Law Project? 🏳️⚧️ GenderGP Gendered Intelligence Mermaids #transgender #equality #healthcare #transrights