The transgender community and its allies are rallying together in New York City, demanding that hospitals which have ceased providing gender-affirming care to minors be excluded from the upcoming NYC Pride march on June 28. This call to action, spearheaded by the Gender Liberation Movement targets major healthcare systems like NYU Langone Health and Mount Sinai which have faced scrutiny for their recent policies.
The movement has garnered significant support, with prominent figures such as Bowen YangDominique JacksonPeppermint and Jay Walker of Gays Against Guns lending their voices to the cause. The petition also includes the backing of former grand marshals like Raquel WillisMichelle VisageTS MadisonCeyenne Doroshow and Jazz Jennings as well as 33 parents of transgender children and several LGBTQ+ organizations.
The Call for Action: Standing Up for Trans Youth
The sign-on letter, organized by the Gender Liberation Movement urges Heritage of Pride to prohibit any hospital system that has succumbed to the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle gender-affirming care for minors. The letter also calls for barring any medical institution that has cooperated with the Justice Department’s attempts to obtain sensitive patient records of transgender minors.
“Across the country, transgender youth and their families are facing an unprecedented assault on their rights, dignity, and access to healthcare,” the letter reads. It highlights that while many institutions have defended trans youth, several New York City hospital systems have preemptively ended gender-affirming care for young people, capitulating to political pressure.
The Broader Context: A Nationwide Issue
This call for action comes amidst a broader national context where major hospital systems, including NYU Langone and Mount Sinai have closed or curtailed programs serving transgender minors. In May, NYU Langone became the first hospital system to be criminally subpoenaed for sensitive medical records of patients who received gender-affirming care as minors between 2026 and 2026.
Advocates have urged hospital systems nationwide not to cooperate with subpoenas, and several judges have blocked the Justice Department’s efforts to access patient files. The petition calls on NYC Pride to join this effort, emphasizing the importance of standing with trans youth and their families.
The Urgency of the Moment
The Gender Liberation Movement transgender advocates, and their supporters are calling for Heritage of Pride to respond by Monday. “NYC Pride has an opportunity to take a stand with trans youth and their families and send a message to the Trump administration that the attacks will not stand in New York,” the petition states. It urges the organization to demonstrate that the values of Pride are more than symbolic by standing unequivocally with transgender youth and the families fighting for their right to receive care.
Raquel Willis co-founder of the Gender Liberation Movement emphasizes the historical significance of this moment. “Each year, we are tested against the values of our ancestors and transcestors during Pride,” she tells The Advocate. “This year, when our vulnerable next generation of transgender and nonbinary youth are being denied care, NYC Pride must hold the line and disallow hospitals that have unlawfully upheld hateful policies.”
The movement underscores the critical role that affirming families of trans youth play on the frontlines of the fight against fascism. It is a call to defend their access and safety, ensuring that the values of Pride are not just symbolic but actively upheld.
