Message
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming hormone therapy for young people can remain on the books. This decision will no doubt embolden politicians trying to ban transgender health care, abortion, and more.
To support trans people, and their right to access gender-affirming care in New York, there is more you must do.
There are three bills awaiting your signature that would help ensure gender-affirming care remains available and accessible in New York. I’m writing to ask you to sign these bills without delay.
Protect Health Data
Getting and providing health care leaves a digital trail. It is collected through fitness apps, phone records, search engines, period tracking apps, and the many other tools that are part of our modern life. You might think this deeply personal information is protected, but the scary truth is it’s not.
The New York Health Information Privacy Act (S.929/A.2141) will change that. This bill ensures that New Yorkers – not big tech companies, bad actors, or government entities – have control over our intimate health information.
Shield Gender-Affirming Care Providers
The Supreme Court decision will encourage Trump and hostile states across the country to go after people who seek, provide, and help people access gender-affirming care. New York has a shield law that aims to protect providers, patients, seekers, and their supporters from these attacks. But there are gaps in these protections that unfriendly governments could take advantage of.
You must close those gaps in our current shield laws by signing legislation (S.4914-B/A.5480-C) that ensures people can access and provide gender-affirming care in New York knowing the state has their backs.
Promote Hospital Transparency
A bill passed by the state legislature (S.3486/A.3862) would give patients the ability to see whether the hospital in their area provides the care – including gender-affirming care – they need. It would also lay the groundwork for improving the accessibility of gender-affirming care statewide.
This bill takes on new urgency as hospitals began denying gender-affirming care in response to Trump’s anti-trans executive orders; community members, families, and advocates have been desperately seeking a list of which hospitals are denying care. This legislation will deliver that information.
Access to gender-affirming care can be lifesaving. You must continue to defend the rights of transgender people to live as their authentic selves, free from harm and discrimination by signing these three bills today.
