Testimony Before NYC Council Committee Regarding Access to Gender-Affirming Care and Associated Mental Health Outcomes for Transgender & Nonbinary Youth

New York City, and State, have a role to play in ensuring New York remains a place that transgender people, particularly transgender young people, can thrive.

The NYCLU strongly supports Res. 547 (Cabán), which urges the State legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.7924-A (Gonzalez) / A.8841-A (Gonzalez-Rojas), which would create a Gender-Affirming Care Access Program in New York State. The Gender-Affirming Care Access Program would be the first dedicated funding stream in New York State to support access to gender-affirming care. It will support trans New Yorkers’ ability to continue to access the health care they rely upon to be themselves and chart their own futures.

The NYCLU also supports Int. 949, which requires the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to make available information and resources related to accessing gender-affirming care, as well as accessing culturally competent LGBTQ health care more generally.