Dozens of people lined the streets along Children’s Way on Saturday outside of Rady Children’s Hospital, in response to the hospital’s announcement that it would close its Center for Gender-affirming Care. The program had been operating since 2012. David Timmons attended the protest with hi s wife, Marilyn. The couple are proud parents of their transgender, non-binary child. “The suicide rate amongst young trans kids is extremely high and they need a place to go,” said Timmons. In a statement from Rady Children’s Hospital on January 21, the hospital confirmed that it would be halting its gender-affirming medical care, and revealed that the hospital was under federal investigation by the Health And Human Services’ Inspector General. “Today, with the denial of medical care to some of San Diego’s most vulnerable youth, human rights takes a giant step backward,” said San Diego City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, who spoke to the crowd of protesters. Rady Children’s Hospital is facing a tug-of-war of sorts on both sides. The Trump administration has threatened hospitals nationwide that they would withhold federal funds from facilities that provide gender-affirming care. Meanwhile, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has said that it is against state law to refuse providing care for patients on the basis of sex. The back-and-forth between the federal government and Sacramento has put Rady Children’s Hospital in the middle of the situation. The hospital said it ultimately decided to close its center to be able to continue providing care for patients. “These developments affect our role and responsibilities as a provider participating in federal programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, which are essential to caring for all children and families in our communities. For these reasons, we will no longer be providing gender-affirming medical interventions, procedures and prescriptions,” the hospital said, in part, in a written statement. “They’re stuck in the middle, and they have to do what’s best for the rest of their patients and I just hope some funding comes, either from private or corporations or other to keep it open,” said Timmons. One of the speakers at Saturday’s rally was Tyler, who did not wish to provide his last name. He first started receiving gender-affirming care at Rady Children’s Hospital in 2018 when he was 16-years-old. “I fully empathize with the position that they’re being put in, but at the same time, I believe that they’re throwing the towel in a bit too early,” said Tyler. “I think it’s important to speak to the harm that depriving kids of medically necessary health care is doing,” he added. The protest was organized by Trans Family Support Services, a nonprofit organization founded about 10 years ago. The organization, founded by CEO Kathy Moehlig, provides resources for parents of trans youth including support groups and information. According to the organization, it has helped more than 7,000 trans youth across the country, including roughly 4,000 families in California. ...read more read less