1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

Hello and thank you for reading this message. I have never been so scared as an American. Not only for myself--but today, for my trans sisters, brothers, and others who are threatened by this violent, hateful administration. It's worth remembering that the Nazis came for trans people first, the people who didn't fit into their rigid structures and hierarchies. At the time, many Germans didn't see this as a big deal. As a constituent, I’m asking you not to make the same mistake. I'm asking you to vote NO on any bill that defunds transition-related healthcare for trans Americans on Medicaid. There is no future for the Democratic Party if we cast aside our trans siblings when they need us the most. Our temporary comfort is in no way worth their freedom, dignity, and lives. In 2022 the Williams Institute reported that of the estimated 1.3 million transgender adults in the U.S, approximately 276,000 were enrolled in Medicaid. The means approximately 21% of trans adults rely on Medicaid coverage, likely a result of significant economic and employment barriers. Trans people across the country suffer severe economic barriers, making them more likely to rely on federally funded healthcare coverage. By prohibiting the coverage of this healthcare, many tens of thousands of trans people will lose access to medically necessary transition-related and face disruptions to their coverage of all their healthcare needs. Transition-related healthcare or gender-affirming healthcare has been safely provided to gender-diverse people for well over four decades, in keeping with medical best practices, scientific evidence, and rigorous standards of care. The healthcare that this legislation seeks to eliminate or substantially restrict has been proven to reduce rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, disordered eating, and suicidality amongst trans people of all ages. It is for these reasons that nearly every legitimate medical and behavioral health association has declared their support for the value and medical necessity of this care for transgender and gender-diverse people. I therefore urge you to oppose any version of the budget that contains discriminatory exclusions on transition-related care for trans people. Thank you.