Dear Mr. Viviano,

We write to you today from a place of deep concern. Disability Rights California expresses its strong opposition to Children's Hospital Los Angeles’ (CHLA) decision to end gender-affirming care for transgender and non-binary youth in Los Angeles.

Disability Rights California (DRC) is the largest disability rights organization in the nation. DRC holds a unique position under state and federal law as the California agency responsible for providing investigation, public information, education, litigation,  and regulatory and advocacy projects under federal grants to redress individual and systemic disability discrimination. DRC strongly supports the right to self-determination in healthcare. DRC Youth and Health Practice Group staff are dedicated to providing youth across California the services they need.

At DRC, we support everyone’s right to control their own body and make informed healthcare decisions. DRC believes that personal independence is a basic right for every person. This includes a person's right to develop their personality, to express hopes and dreams, and to make choices that permit them the Dignity of Risk (a concept that ensures informed decision-making by helping a client understand the risks associated with an action while not attempting to force them to choose what is viewed culturally or socially as “better”).1 Gender affirming care is one of many healthcare options that provide healthy, person-centered holistic support. In healthcare settings, youth and their families must have access to all various forms of healthcare, including gender-affirming care.

Gender-affirming care is life-saving for many TGNBI+ (Trans, Gender Non-Binary, and Intersex) youth and protected by California law. DRC strongly recommends CHLA's gender-affirming care services remain open, accessible, and affordable for youth in need. By rescinding this vital healthcare, you have directly impacted at least 2,000 patients in Los Angeles who rely on you. This action is unacceptable and must be stopped.

Study after study shows that healthcare for transgender youth results in better health and improvement in other areas of life such as relationship building, school outcomes, and increased community participation. Hormone therapy is safe, effective, and even lifesaving for many transgender people experiencing gender dysphoria, including youth.

DRC is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have equitable access to healthcare, including gender affirming care and mental health care. We must have healthcare providers that do not back down under pressure and keep fighting to ensure all individuals have the autonomy to make their own decisions about their lives and health. 

DRC urges you to reverse your decision to pull care from the trans and non-binary adolescents in need of the gender affirming care you provide.

Sincerely,

Andy Imparato
Chief Executive Officer
Disability Rights California

Kendra J. Muller
Staff Attorney, Civil Rights Practice Group  
Disability Rights California

• 1. Plain Language Summary: Self-Determination & Dignity of Risk, Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities National Training Center, Retrieved from https://www.mhddcenter.org/self-determination-dignity-of-risk/.