Today, we learned that Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) is closing its doors to transgender youth seeking healthcare. We are outraged, we are heartbroken, and we want to be absolutely clear when we say that this is not a neutral decision. It is discrimination—plain and simple. It is a decisive, political move. It is not a reflection of what is best for the health and safety of our youth, and it will cause real, lasting harm.

Despite months of advocacy from providers, legal experts, families, and the California Attorney General himself, CHLA has chosen to walk away from the youth who need them most during a time when they are being targeted across the country. This decision is not based in safety or medicine. It is a calculated retreat in the face of political pressure for the sake of self-preservation. And our youth will pay the price.

CHLA was once a beacon of hope. A place where our youth could access the care they need to live and thrive. But they have now chosen to abandon their pledge to “do no harm” and, in doing so, joined the growing number of institutions turning their backs on our youth.

While we condemn this decision by CHLA leadership, we want to acknowledge the providers who stood by trans youth with care and compassion. We know this choice was not yours.

This is a devastating betrayal for us all—not just to our community in Los Angeles, but to trans youth and families everywhere who looked to CHLA as a model of inclusive, affirming care.

But let us also be clear about this: trans healthcare still exists. Trans youth still exist. Our community still exists. And we are not going anywhere.

TFSS stands resolute in our commitment to walk through this moment with you. We are already working to identify providers across the state who are continuing to offer healthcare for trans youth. We are building resources, creating actionable steps forward, and showing up for every family impacted. If CHLA won’t stand with trans youth, we will.

We grieve this loss and everything it means for our community. But we are not giving up. The strength of our community does not depend on institutions. It never has. It depends on us. And together, we will continue to fight, to protect, and to build something stronger.

To every young person reading this: you are not alone. You are not forgotten. And you will never be abandoned by us.

“CHLA’s decision to end trans youth healthcare is a heartbreaking and discriminatory retreat. It is not about safety or medicine—it is political, and it will harm our youth. We are outraged at the leadership behind this decision, but deeply grateful to the providers who have stood by their patients with courage and care.

Trans youth still exist. Trans healthcare still exists. And so do we. TransFamily Support Services is here, building a path forward for every family impacted. We will not back down.”

Kathie Moehlig (she/her)
Executive Director, TransFamily Support Services