Not even rain could stop hundreds from gathering outside Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) on Thursday evening in a powerful demonstration against the hospital’s decision to halt gender-affirming care for new patients under 19. LA city councilmembers, advocates, medical professionals, parents, and community leaders stood together to send a clear message: Transgender youth deserve access to life-saving healthcare, and any attempt to limit that care—whether from the federal government or local institutions—will not go unchallenged.
Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Joe Hollendoner addressed the crowd at the rally, condemning CHLA’s abrupt policy change, calling it a betrayal of the hospital’s long-standing leadership in providing care for trans and gender-expansive young people.
“This decision is not just a policy shift—it is a direct harm to TGNBI+ young people who rely on CHLA for essential, evidence-based care,” Hollendoner said. “By halting access to hormonal therapy for new patients, CHLA is placing trans youth at even greater risk—at a time when they are already under attack by discriminatory policies and political rhetoric.”
Hollendoner emphasized the devastating ripple effects of CHLA’s decision, which not only leaves trans youth without critical medical support but also undermines the work of healthcare professionals who have dedicated their careers to providing affirming and life-saving care.
Lives depend on the choices we make today. Trans youth deserve support, not barriers. They deserve care, not abandonment.
“The harm does not stop with patients and their families,” he continued. “It extends to the dedicated providers and staff at CHLA’s gender clinic—professionals who have committed their careers to affirming and life-saving care. CHLA’s abrupt decision disregards their expertise, undermines their work, and sends a dangerous message that their contributions to trans healthcare are expendable.”
President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to bar gender-affirming care for youth—which will almost certainly face legal challenges in court—has caused widespread confusion in the days following its signing. Earlier in the week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement warning CHLA that withholding care for trans youth could violate state law. “Let me be clear,” he wrote. “California law has not changed, and hospitals and clinics have a legal obligation to provide equal access to healthcare services.”
Thursday’s rally was a powerful display of community resilience and determination, with chants, signs, and speeches reinforcing the urgent need to protect gender-affirming healthcare. Many in attendance shared personal stories of how access to gender-affirming care had transformed—or even saved—their lives. Parents of trans youth spoke of the fear and uncertainty this decision has created, while healthcare professionals voiced their frustration and concern over the chilling effect this could have on other institutions.
“This is a pivotal moment,” Hollendoner said. “CHLA has the opportunity to be on the right side of history—to stand firmly in support of trans youth, medical integrity, and the rights of all young people to access the care they need. We urge CHLA to immediately restore access to gender-affirming care for new patients and to continue providing uninterrupted support to the adolescents currently under their care.”
As the rally came to a close, the message was clear: The fight is far from over. The Los Angeles LGBT Center and its allies remain steadfast in their commitment to ensuring that every trans young person receives the care they need to thrive. CHLA now faces a critical choice—to abandon trans youth or to reaffirm its commitment to medical integrity and compassionate care. The community is watching, and the pressure to do what is right will only continue to grow.
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