Protestors condemn UVA Health after suspension of gender-affirming care for transgender youth

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - UVA Health will no longer provide gender-affirming care for patients under 19 years of age.

That means an end to the Children’s Hospital Transgender Youth Health services, which included therapy referrals, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and referrals for gender-affirming surgery.

Only a few hours after the decision was made public, around 100 protestors showed up at UVA Health’s doorstep.

“This is a voluntary decision on UVA’s behalf and it is basically removing life saving care from trans kids 19 and younger,” Charlottesville Gender Expansive Network President Lilly DeCostanza said. “Gender-affirming prevents kids suicide, it helps kids feel right.”

“I go here all the time for my care. I am very concerned at them complying with this order,” another protestor said.

UVA Health sent 29News a statement Friday morning regarding it’s decision.

“Like many health systems across the country, the University of Virginia and UVA Health are working to analyze and interpret the federal order and related state guidance,” the statement read, in part.

This decision comes a day after Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares sent a memo to both the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University, urging them to suspend such care.

“The chemical and surgical mutilation of children must end immediately,” the memo read.

It’s a message Senlin Means, co-owner of Beautiful Idea, a trans owned store in Charlottesville, said is misleading.

“Surgery is almost never part of health care for trans youth, and all of the care they get is reversible,” Means said. “In the rare case of surgery, those kids are 18, and the only thing that might be done would be top surgery.”

Miyares directed both groups to follow an Executive Order signed by President Donald Trump this week, restricting access to gender-affirming medical care for minors.

One protestor told 29News she was speaking on behalf of the UVA Healthcare providers unhappy with their employers decision.

“They are concerned at UVA basically kowtowing to a fascist administrations law,” Anne said.

Do you have a story idea? Send us your news tip here.

Copyright 2025 WVIR. All rights reserved.