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Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration is escalating its assaults on transgender Individuals 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 take care of transgender minors, equivalent 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 take care of minors.
The administration nonetheless has to undergo the rulemaking course of earlier than both measure is finalized.
What’s the context? Assaults on trans Individuals — each their inclusion in public life and their mere existence — have grow to be a core characteristic of the second Trump administration. In a pair of January government orders, President Donald Trump attacked “gender ideology extremism” and referred to gender-affirming care as “chemical and surgical mutilation.”
Final month, the Supreme Courtroom additionally allowed the Trump administration to implement a brand new passport coverage requiring passports to be issued with the holder’s intercourse at delivery.
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 assist 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, At this time, Defined) to this excellent story: “A Grand Yuletide Principle: The Muppet Christmas Carol is the Finest Adaptation of A Christmas Carol.” Now, expensive readers, I’m passing it on to you, as a result of it’s a delight. (I additionally extremely advocate Dickens’s unique A Christmas Carol, when you’re searching for seasonal actions.) Have an ideal night and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow!
