PITTSBURGH, Pa. — UPMC has made an outrageous decision to begin denying full gender affirming medical healthcare for new and some existing patients under 19 years old at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP). This care at UPMC’s only gender clinic has been vital to the many young people whose lives depend on it for over a decade. TransYOUniting is mobilizing a mass rally on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at UPMC’s headquarters in Pittsburgh. In solidarity, rallies are taking place at UPMC locations across Pennsylvania — in Erie, Altoona, Lancaster, and Lewisburg.
The rallies are spearheaded by TransYOUniting, with support from the Pennsylvania Youth Congress. Local trans and LGBTQ+ community organizations are partnering to mobilize for these gatherings, including Compton’s Table and the Eastern Pennsylvania Trans Equity Project. Speakers at the rallies range from Mayor Ed Gainey in Pittsburgh to State Representatives Ismail Smith-Wade-El and Nikki Rivera in Lancaster.
These coordinated statewide events will raise critical visibility of public rejection to UPMC’s decision of pre-compliance with the illegal Executive Order issued on January 28, 2025, and demand they reverse their decision under the current circumstances. UPMC must continue providing gender affirming care until there would be an actual regulation or court order requiring them to end their services. Providing behavioral healthcare alone is not enough to save the lives of trans children and youth. These rallies will demonstrate needed public support for young trans Pennsylvanians.
The events are titled: Demand UPMC Continue Saving Trans Lives. Gender affirming care for youth is medically necessary and backed by all major medical organizations in the United States. Young people will be harmed without access to these interventions, which includes suffering from physical changes that are not easily reversible. If some trans young people are prevented from accessing basic healthcare, it can lead to negative outcomes including depleted mental health, self harm, and death. The gatherings invite all those who support transgender young people to rise up in opposition to this cruel act by UPMC — a decision of anticipatory compliance. In fact, federal courts have currently blocked implementation of the Executive Order nationwide.
The rallies are being held to demand that UPMC:
- Reinstate gender affirming care for new patients at CHP in Pittsburgh given the current circumstances
- Should a court order, law, or regulation specifically mandate UPMC cease direct gender affirming care for young trans people, UPMC must enthusiastically support and fund alternative providers to ensure trans youth receive the medically-necessary healthcare they need to survive
- Establish an advisory committee for UPMC’s administration on gender affirming care, comprised of transgender youth and community leaders, and healthcare professionals
- Not retaliate against our communities and continue funding for local programs and LGBTQ+ healthcare
The Pennsylvania Youth Congress advances freedom and justice for young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians by advocating for responsible public policy. Established in 2011, PYC represents citizens working toward safer schools and thriving communities across the commonwealth. PYC is PA’s only Pennsylvania-based statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization headquartered in Harrisburg.