Closure of CHLA Center for Transyouth Health Sparks Outrage

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Activists gather outside CHLA to protest the closure of the Center for Transyouth Health.

News Summary

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) has closed its Center for Transyouth Health and Development, which provided essential transgender healthcare to nearly 3,000 patients. The decision, driven by federal funding threats, has ignited protests and criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates, highlighting the mental health risks for transgender youth. Despite California laws supporting gender-affirming care, the closure reflects broader national trends as many states enact restrictions on such services. Advocates are increasingly vocal about the repercussions of this healthcare crisis on transgender youth.

Los Angeles – Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) has announced the closure of its Center for Transyouth Health and Development, which has been a crucial source of transgender healthcare for nearly 3,000 patients. The decision comes amid threats from President Donald Trump to cut federal funding for healthcare facilities that provide gender-affirming care, a move that could have far-reaching effects on transgender youth access to essential services.

CHLA is recognized as the largest dedicated clinic for transgender youth treatment in the United States. In an email to families, the hospital stated that it found “no viable alternative” to the dissolution of the clinic, a decision that has ignited outrage among LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and led to protests outside the hospital’s premises, with many describing the action as “cowardly and cruel.” The announcement has intensified following the facility’s earlier decision in February to stop providing puberty blockers and surgeries for adolescent patients.

During a rally on July 3, advocates emphasized the negative consequences the closure will likely have on the mental well-being of transgender youth. Statistics indicate that transgender individuals face disproportionately higher rates of depression and suicide compared to their cisgender counterparts. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), gender-affirming healthcare is linked to significantly reduced rates of depression and suicidality among transgender and nonbinary individuals aged 13 to 20. The decision by CHLA to cease such critical healthcare services contradicts guidance from mental health experts, including the American Psychological Association, which has emphasized the importance of maintaining access to supportive care for transgender youth.

Despite California’s laws ostensibly protecting access to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare, hospitals like CHLA are caught in a challenging position due to federal pressures. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has previously spoken out against Trump’s executive order related to gender-affirming care and has worked alongside 22 other state attorneys general to challenge efforts to rescind funding for supportive services.

CHLA cited external pressures and the need to balance operational viability amidst funding fears as justification for its decision to close the clinic. The hospital plans to continue offering similar treatments to cisgender patients, a move that has not gone unnoticed among advocates who criticize the prioritization of cisgender care over services for transgender youth. This approach further underscores challenges faced by transgender patients, who often experience underinsurance compared to their cisgender peers, making the closure particularly detrimental for many marginalized communities.

The announcement of CHLA’s closure aligns with a broader trend in the United States, as at least 27 states have enacted laws since April 2025 that ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors, intensifying the already pressing healthcare crisis for this vulnerable demographic. As advocates rally to protect the rights and health of transgender youth, CHLA’s decision highlights the ongoing struggles that many face in accessing necessary medical care in the changing landscape of healthcare policy.

As protests continue and voices grow louder, the impact of CHLA’s closure is expected to resonate throughout the community and beyond, raising critical questions about the future of transgender healthcare in a climate fraught with ideological and regulatory challenges.