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VCU clinic begins to comply with Trump’s transgender healthcare ban on those under 19

Virginia Commonwealth University's Children’s Hospital of Richmond, located in downtown Richmond.
Brad Kutner
/
Radio IQ
Virginia Commonwealth University's Children’s Hospital of Richmond, located in downtown Richmond.

Early Thursday morning a mother in Richmond received a phone call. An appointment at VCU Health for her trans child had been canceled due to this week's executive order from the Trump administration.

Virginia Commonwealth University may be among the first public health systems in the U. S. to comply with President Donald Trump’s order banning gender affirming care for those under the age of 19. VCU announced it would no longer take part in medical and surgical procedures in a statement sent to Radio IQ Thursday evening.

For Kristen, the mother of a trans child who only used her first name out of fear for her safety, it was heartbreaking. Her daughter had an appointment Thursday morning that was canceled.

“Who are you to decide what my child needs? This is the party of small government,” she told Radio IQ Thursday morning.

In the statement VCU said the care was being discontinued “in response to clear guidance from the state provided to VCU.”

The change is likely linked to an executive order signed by Trump on Tuesday. It reads quote “it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another.” It specifically cited hospitals and medical schools that receive federal grants, as well as programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

But Kristen refuses to give up on supporting her child.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do. But I can tell you there’s a lot of people who will not give up on trans kids," she said. "And that matters right now that people know that cause it's going to feel really hard and stand in that gale-force wind and people need to know they’re not alone.”

VCU said it would meet with patients to discuss quote– specific care options in compliance with the most recent guidance.

Prince William County Senator Danica Roem, Virginia’s only openly trans member of the General Assembly, told Radio IQ her office was looking into ways to help those impacted.

“We are going to not give up. We are going to fight like hell every step of the way,” Roem said in an interview late Thursday.

On Friday, The University of Virginia told media organizations its health system would also suspend gender-affirming care for patients under age 19.

This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.

Updated: January 31, 2025 at 1:35 PM EST
Added Friday announcement from UVA Health
Brad Kutner is Radio IQ's reporter in Richmond.