IntraSpectrum Book Review Bear Bergman

Lurie Children’s Hospital announced this week that it is pausing all gender-affirming surgeries for patients under the age of 19, in the wake of President Trump’s 1/28/2025 executive order on gender care. Lurie says it will continue to provide hormone therapy, puberty blockers and mental health care at this time, as their team “monitors further developments on this issue”.

Trump’s order halts federal funding and grants for medical facilities / hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to individuals under 19, specifically targeting surgical procedures, hormone therapy and medications that delay puberty. It is a deliberate action designed to promote the administration’s hateful political rhetoric, and it will harm trans kids.

We find it unconscionable that an organization serving so many in the LGBTQ+ community would so quickly back down to this order – including reportedly cancelling surgeries for trans kids who have already gone through the preparation process and have their surgeries scheduled. IntraSpectrum Counseling joins with many others in calling on Lurie to reverse this decision immediately, and reinstate all gender-affirming surgeries for patients under the age of 19:

• Lurie is a preeminent provider of LGBTQ+ affirming medical services. Smaller and less influential affirming providers look to Lurie for leadership and may end up erroneously following their lead.
• Lurie’s decision is in violation of the Human Rights Act in Illinois, which requires health care providers to provide health care to all residents and prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex and gender identity.
• Lurie is acting prematurely. According to a coalition of attorneys general (including Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul), the federal funding in question continues to be available, irrespective of the executive order. The message Lurie is sending with this decision is concerning and inconsistent with patient advocacy.
• Lurie’s decision will be traumatic for patients, especially those who have already begun the medical transition process or who are low income and covered by Medicaid (representing over half of Lurie’s pediatric patients)

There are reasons for hope. Families and advocates have joined PFLAG and GMLA (LGBTQ+ health professionals’ organization) in filing a federal lawsuit against Trump’s executive order. And Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul & a coalition of other attorneys general reaffirmed last week that they will work to protect access and federal funding for gender-affirming care. But these glimmers don’t negate the fact that Lurie is choosing to deprioritize patient care. And we find that incredibly disappointing.

These initiatives continue to be triggering to many and are adding to peoples’ levels of uncertainty & distress. For anyone needing affirming and validating support, we encourage you to reach out to us or to another trusted source in your community. We pledge to remain a beacon of hope.

We’re now enrolling two new therapy groups, see below. These groups will fill quickly; click here for details & reserve your space today!

• Queer Grief Process Group: Saturdays, April 5-May 17, 9:00-10:30 AM in-person @Clark Street
• Celebrating Neurodivergence Support Group: Sundays, May 11-June 22, 9:00-10:30 AM online via Google Meet