![Trans Lawmakers Say White House’s Latest Comments About Trans Youth Are ‘Betrayal’](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/668c703f250000b200a8ed2c.jpg?ops=1200_630)
Trans Lawmakers Say White House’s Latest Comments About Trans Youth Are ‘Betrayal’
HuffPost
The administration recently came out against gender-affirming surgeries for trans youth, which advocates call both “rare and necessary.”
Several prominent LGBTQ+ advocates and a dozen transgender lawmakers have criticized the Biden administration for its recent statement that gender-affirming surgeries should only be allowed for transgender adults.
“These are deeply personal decisions and we believe these surgeries should be limited to adults,” a White House spokesperson said in an email to The 19th last week. “We continue to support gender-affirming care for minors, which represents a continuum of care, and respect the role of parents, families, and doctors in these decisions.”
The statement came days after The New York Times and Fox News reported on the administration’s opposition to surgery for minors — a stark departure from the White House’s strong support for gender-affirming care and efforts to protect LGBTQ+ rights more broadly.
The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s requests for comment.
Three years ago, during his first joint address to Congress, President Joe Biden sent a clear message to the trans community: “To all transgender Americans watching at home, especially young people … I want you to know that your president has your back.”