“New York Pres, what do you say? How many kids did you harm today?”
The chant rang out on Manhattan’s Upper East Side Oct. 1 as hundreds of people picketed NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (NYP), one of three major hospital systems in the city that abruptly stopped providing gender-affirming health care for trans youth after pressure from the Trump regime.
Protesters – including trans youth and adults, families and community supporters – demanded that NYP immediately restore this essential and life-saving care. Large pink and lavender signs declared, “Trans lives are not bargaining chips,” “Trans youth deserve trans futures,” and “Honor your oath.”
They also told NYP to reject a deal to permanently end services for trans youth. It’s widely believed that such a deal is in the works, after the city’s other two major hospital systems, Mount Sinai and NYU Langone, signed off on deals with Trump’s Department of “Justice.”
At the NYP protest, Qween Jean and other speakers warned politicians and hospital bosses that they must take action to restore care, or face escalating actions.
New York State and City have enacted laws that are supposed to protect access to gender-affirming care and shield providers from legal attacks by the federal government and so-called “red state” lawsuits.
However, almost a year after the three big hospital chains ended care for trans youth, nothing has been done by state and city officials to punish the perpetrators and force them to restart services.
Another chant was, “Wake up, wake up, this is your fight too – when they’re done with us, they’re coming for you.” Once the precedent is set for hospitals to abandon care for one marginalized group targeted by the government, everyone’s right to health care is endangered.
This was the third protest in the past month organized jointly by the Gender Liberation Movement and ACT UP NY. Earlier actions were held outside NYU Langone and Mount Sinai facilities.
Another action is being planned for early November.
Actor Elliot Page speaks during an NYU Langone protest for trans youth care. Credit: Gender Liberation Movement
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