Sydney Martinez, Campus Carrier opinions editor
Lately, healthcare for all has been a touchy subject, even more so when it comes to providing healthcare for transgender individuals who desire gender-affirming care. The controversy surrounding transgender healthcare is rooted in misinformation, fear and an outright lack of compassion. People who oppose transgender healthcare often claim these medical interventions are unnecessary or harmful, ignoring decades of research and the lived experiences of countless transgender individuals who rely on gender-affirming care to survive. Denying transgender people the care they need is not just cruel — it is a violation of their basic human rights. Major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have made it clear that gender-affirming care is essential and lifesaving. Yet, many states and policymakers continue to weaponize this issue for political gain, leaving transgender individuals vulnerable and unsupported.
Trans healthcare includes not only surgeries that are done to change genders, but also get mental health care, medical care and other kinds of social services. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) explains that gender-affirming care is “a broad approach to health care and support that recognizes and respects an individual’s gender identity.” It helps prevent gender dysphoria after it has been diagnosed, which is most common among transgender and non-binary people. Those who argue against transgender healthcare often fail to understand that this care is about allowing people to live authentically and with dignity.
Surgeries that reshape or change genitals are typically done for the person to be able to express themselves with the gender they identify with the most. The University of California, San Francisco says, “the current standard of care is to allow each transgender person to seek only [genital surgery] interventions which they desire to affirm their own gender identity.” To deny this care based on ignorance or prejudice is to deny someone their ability to live fully and freely. This is not about aesthetics — it is about survival.
Denying best practice transgender healthcare, according to The University of California, San Francisco, “…is associated with high-risk behaviors and increased rates of HIV infection.” There are other risk factors to consider like depression, anxiety, social isolation, risk of self-harm and suicidal tendencies. These risks are not hypothetical — they are the harsh reality faced by many transgender individuals when they are denied access to care. If we truly care about mental health and public safety, how can we justify blocking access to the very care that alleviates these struggles?
Young kids need gender-affirming care too, not just because they want it, but because they are diagnosed with gender dysphoria. According to information by Mayo Clinic, puberty blockers help lessen the feeling of gender dysphoria in children to improve mental health, ease depression, anxiety and improve their social interaction with others. Critics who oppose gender-affirming care for youth often argue that children are too young to make such decisions, but puberty blockers are not permanent — they simply pause puberty to give children and their families time to make informed decisions. This care is evidence-based and administered under strict medical guidelines. The HRC says, “Trans people’s health care is always delivered in age-appropriate, evidence-based ways, and decisions to provide care are made in consultation with doctors and parents.” By denying this care, we are sending a dangerous message to trans youth: that their identity is not valid and that their well-being does not matter. The harm caused by such rejection is far too grand to risk.
Another highly debated issue is transgender athletes’ participation in sports. Opponents argue that transgender women have a physical advantage over cisgender women, ignoring the science and regulations already in place. Hormone therapy significantly reduces any advantage, and many sports organizations — such as the International Olympic Committee — have implemented guidelines to ensure fairness. Yet, the real issue goes beyond fairness: it is about inclusion of transgender individuals. Denying transgender athletes, the right to compete sends a message that they do not belong, further isolating an already marginalized community. The discussion of transgender athletes extends beyond fairness and competition — it ties into the broader issue of how transgender individuals are perceived and treated in society. If we claim to value equality and fairness, then we must advocate for policies that include, rather than exclude, transgender athletes.
It is about time that we discuss the realities of denying transgender healthcare. To deny transgender healthcare is to deny gender-affirming healthcare for all, from youths to adults, transgender people to cisgender individuals. The risk of losing someone due to denial of transgender healthcare or lack of support from friends and family is too great to dismiss. Gender-affirming care has been focused on trans individuals only to restrict their access to care for too long. On behalf of transgender and non-binary people, we should all advocate for their equal access to healthcare. The denial of transgender healthcare is the denial of human rights. Educate yourself on what transgender healthcare entails, stand for policies that support transgender healthcare and join public demonstrations that show support for gender-affirming care specifically for transgender individuals. This is not just a political issue — it is a matter of dignity, humanity and justice.