Trans Lawmakers Say White House’s Latest Comments About Trans Youth Are ‘Betrayal’

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.”

Most recently, the Biden administration has sided with transgender youth and their families in a legal challenge to Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for youth, which is heading to the Supreme Court this fall. The court agreed to take up the case, which will determine whether bans on transition care violate the Constitution and could have ripple effects on similar bans nationwide.

“As President Biden has repeatedly said, ‘It’s wrong that extreme officials are pushing hateful bills targeting transgender children, terrifying families, and criminalizing doctors. These are kids. These