Laws in the United States that prohibit gender-affirming care for transgender youth are causing significant harm to young individuals and their families, as highlighted in a recent report by Human Rights Watch.
This troubling trend has intensified since 2021, with 25 states now enforcing strict bans that replace established, evidence-based care with politically motivated restrictions.
The Human Rights Watch report, titled ‘They’re Ruining People’s Lives’: Bans on Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth in the US,’ reveals harrowing impacts on mental health and well-being among transgender youth.
The report documents instances of increased anxiety, depression, and even suicide attempts among young people who have been affected by these legislative changes.
Compiled from interviews with 51 individuals across 19 states—including transgender youth, their parents, health care providers, and LGBTQ+ advocates—the report highlights a disturbing trend towards a more hostile and anti-trans environment.
Many young people feel compelled to conceal their identities and withdraw socially due to the pervasive negativity surrounding transgender rights and health care access.
In addition to affecting individual lives, these bans are straining the U.S. healthcare system by creating geographic and financial barriers that hinder families from accessing necessary care.
Since the beginning of 2025, actively hostile policies implemented under the Trump administration have exacerbated these challenges.
Yasemin Smallens, an LGBT Rights Officer at Human Rights Watch, criticized the federal government for intensifying attacks on transgender rights, stating, “US officials have cut off transgender youth from essential, life-affirming care.”
Families are increasingly finding themselves navigating impossible barriers to secure proper medical attention for their children.
The report notes a stark statistic: over 100,000 transgender youth are currently living in states where legislative bans on gender-affirming care are in effect.
Particularly concerning is that six states have designated the provision of gender-affirming care as a felony.
Moreover, eight states have enacted vague ‘aiding and abetting’ laws that could result in serious penalties for healthcare providers who merely make referrals or refill prescriptions for transgender youth.
One shocking example includes a case challenging Tennessee’s ban, which is currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court, with a decision anticipated in June.
Families affected by these bans report abrupt loss of access to medical care with little to no advance notice.
In several cases, families have felt compelled to seek care out of state due to the legal barriers in their home states.
Some families even reported relocating to different states entirely to secure care; an 18-year-old trans woman shared her frustrations, stating, “I want [lawmakers] to know they’re ruining people’s lives.”
Many interviewees have retained access to care but cited the challenging legal and political climate exacerbate feelings of anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
Healthcare providers have also faced serious repercussions from these state bans, as many have ceased operations or reduced their services beyond what is legally required due to fear and hostility.
Every healthcare provider interviewed for the report has experienced targeted anti-trans harassment, leading to increased security measures and diverted resources away from patient care.
Civil society organizations report experiencing similar threats, facing inflated costs associated with safety measures as a direct consequence of these hostile environments.
In Texas, a 2022 directive effectively labeled certain forms of gender-affirming care as ‘child abuse,’ which has driven fearful families to avoid seeking healthcare entirely.
Advocates have noted that the environment has fostered a widespread fear among families that could lead to child abuse investigations simply based on a child’s gender identity being disclosed.
Adding to the complexity, a proclamation issued by President Trump in April 2025 stated that parents who affirm their child’s gender identity could be considered as committing abuse.
A parent who participated in the interviews emphasized that the process for accessing gender-affirming care is much more nuanced than people believe, stating, “In the first year or more, not one prescription was written.”
The supportive evaluations involved in affirming care are a critical aspect of ensuring that treatment is tailored to the individual’s needs.
Leading medical organizations such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics endorse timely access to evidence-based, developmentally appropriate care for transgender youth.
Human Rights Watch concluded that the bans are violating the international legal obligations of the U.S. to safeguard the rights of transgender individuals.
These laws are driving young people into crises, uprooting families, and fomenting anti-trans hostility in society, a reality that lawmaker should be urgently addressing.
“Lawmakers should repeal these bans, ensure access to care, and protect transgender youth and their families so they can live safely and with dignity,” urged Smallens.
image source from：https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/06/03/us-bans-gender-affirming-care-harm-trans-youth
