NY-Presbyterian Removes Transgender Youth Care From Website After Trump Order
New York’s Largest Hospital Deletes References to Gender-Affirming Care
New York’s largest hospital, New York-Presbyterian, has removed references to gender-affirming care for young people from its website and won’t address questions about those services, days after a presidential order threatening federal funding to hospitals.
Changes to Website Description
According to an archived version of its website from last summer, the COMPASS program provided services including “puberty suppression and gender-affirming hormone treatment,” describing COMPASS as a “safe space for youth navigating their gender experience.”
Changes to Website Services
On Friday, the program website was unavailable when THE CITY tried to access it. The site was back online by Monday, but no longer included the words “transgender” or “gender-diverse children” in the program description. The site also removed puberty suppression and hormone treatment from the list of its available services.
Spokesperson Statement
A spokesperson for NY-Presbyterian said Monday the COMPASS program is still operating but that it made changes to its website in response to last week’s executive order from President Donald Trump that declared hospitals that provide care to transgender youth, including the use of puberty blockers, would be denied federal funds.
Attorney General’s Statement
On Monday, state Attorney General Letitia James called Trump’s attempts to freeze federal funding “illegal” and warned health providers that New York’s non-discrimination laws require them to provide gender-affirming care, regardless of the executive order.
State Shield Laws
New York is one of 16 states, along with Washington D.C., that have passed shield laws protecting access to gender-affirming treatments, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a non-profit think tank. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed New York’s law in 2023.
Legal Perspective
The standoff between the Trump administration and the state government puts hospitals in a difficult situation: Risk losing federal funding for failing to comply with the executive order, or face discrimination litigation from the state, said Erin Harrist, director of the LGBTQ+ unit at The Legal Aid Society.
Conclusion
New York-Presbyterian’s altered website suggests a swift retreat from its previous commitment to providing care to transgender youth. The hospital’s decision to remove references to gender-affirming care from its website may be a response to the Trump administration’s executive order, but it is unclear what this means for the hospital’s commitment to providing care to transgender youth.
FAQs
* What is the COMPASS program?
+ The COMPASS program is a program provided by New York-Presbyterian that offers services for young people navigating their gender experience.
* What services did the COMPASS program previously offer?
+ The COMPASS program previously offered services including puberty suppression and gender-affirming hormone treatment.
* Why did New York-Presbyterian remove references to gender-affirming care from its website?
+ New York-Presbyterian removed references to gender-affirming care from its website in response to the Trump administration’s executive order threatening federal funding to hospitals that provide care to transgender youth.
* Is the COMPASS program still operating?
+ Yes, the COMPASS program is still operating, according to a spokesperson for NY-Presbyterian.
