Families of Transgender Youth No Longer View Colorado as a Haven for Gender-Affirming Care - KFF Health News

In recent years , states across the Mountain West have passed laws that limit doctors from providing transgender children with certain kinds of gender-affirming care.

Following executive orders from the Trump administration, even hospitals in Colorado limited the care they offer for trans patients under age 19 .

Colorado families say their state was a haven for those health services for a long time.

For every 100,000 trans minors, fewer than three undergo surgery; surgery is rare among teens.

Trans youth and their families said the court ruling and the two Colorado health systems’ decisions to resume treatments haven’t resolved matters.

The Trump administration has continued to press health providers beyond the initial executive orders by threatening to withhold or cancel federal money awarded to them.

The process to get treatment for gender-affirming care is long and thorough.

Researchers have found that, even among those with private insurance, transgender youth aren”t likely to receive puberty blockers and hormones.

David could easily get surgery to enhance his breasts, but he must seek surgical options in other states to reduce or remove them.

“ Colorado as a state was supposed to be a safe haven,” his mother, Louise , said.