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Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration is escalating its assaults on transgender People and gender-affirming well being care.
What occurred? Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced Thursday that the federal authorities would take steps to dam entry to gender-affirming look after transgender minors, corresponding to puberty blockers, hormones, or surgical procedure.
Kennedy’s Well being and Human Providers Division is proposing two guidelines: One would goal federal funding to hospitals that present gender-affirming care to minors by banning them from taking part in Medicare and Medicaid. The second proposed rule would block federal {dollars} from being spent on gender-affirming look after minors.
The administration nonetheless has to undergo the rulemaking course of earlier than both measure is finalized.
What’s the context? Assaults on trans People — each their inclusion in public life and their mere existence — have develop into a core function of the second Trump administration. In a pair of January govt orders, President Donald Trump attacked “gender ideology extremism” and referred to gender-affirming care as “chemical and surgical mutilation.”
Final month, the Supreme Court docket additionally allowed the Trump administration to implement a brand new passport coverage requiring passports to be issued with the holder’s intercourse at beginning.
Why does this matter? These proposed coverage adjustments are diametrically against skilled medical recommendation on the topic. The American Medical Affiliation, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and different main medical associations all help entry to gender-affirming care — which most frequently consists of puberty blockers and hormones, not surgical procedure — for minors.
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
This week, my colleague Dylan Scott launched me (and readers of Vox’s morning e-newsletter, Immediately, Defined) to this excellent story: “A Grand Yuletide Idea: The Muppet Christmas Carol is the Finest Adaptation of A Christmas Carol.” Now, pricey readers, I’m passing it on to you, as a result of it’s a delight. (I additionally extremely suggest Dickens’s unique A Christmas Carol, when you’re in search of seasonal actions.) Have an ideal night and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow!
