NYC Pride urged to ban hospitals that stopped care for trans kids

Grand marshals past and present have signed a letter demanding that New York City Pride bans hospitals that stopped providing healthcare for trans kids from participating in the event.

Trans advocacy group Gender Liberation Movement published the letter, which was addressed to NYC Pride’s Board of Directors and Leadership, on 22 June.

“We write as LGBTQ+ organisations, advocates, community leaders, allies, and New Yorkers who believe that Pride must remain rooted in solidarity with those most under attack,” the letter begins.

“Across the country, transgender youth and their families are facing an unprecedented assault on their rights, dignity, and access to healthcare.”

The letter praises institutions that have “courageously defended trans youth” despite pressure from the Trump administration. However, it also criticises hospitals that have caved to government attacks and specifically calls out three by name.

“Several New York City hospital systems, including NYU Langone, Mt. Sinai, and New York Presbyterian, have instead chosen to preemptively end gender-affirming care for young people, capitulating to the attacks by the Trump Administration,” the letter states.

The organisation goes on to say that ending access to gender-affirming care “puts trans youth at risk” and has had “devastating consequences.”

“Families have been forced to seek care elsewhere, endure significant disruptions to treatment, and confront uncertainty about their children’s futures,” the statement continues, as per The Advocate. “At a moment when trans youth need institutions to stand firm, these hospitals chose cowardice over courage.”

It then calls on NYC Pride to ban the named hospitals from participating in current and future marches and festivals surrounding Pride in the city, “unless and until they restore the care and publicly commit to protecting trans youth and their families.”

“Institutions cannot claim solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities one day a year while abandoning trans youth when political pressure mounts,” the statement reads.

“We’re in a historical moment where, as a community, we must be unequivocal about our support for the next generations. Trans youth are not expendable or political pawns. They deserve access to healthcare that allows them to have a future worth living.”

According to the group, 2026 NYC Pride grand marshals Bowen Yang, Dominique Jackson, Peppermint and Jay Walks from Gays Against Guns have all signed the letter.

Former grand marshals, including Michelle Visage, TS Madison, Jazz Jennings, Cayenne Doroshow and Raquel Willis, have all also backed the statement.

The letter is also supported by a number of other LGBTQ+ community members, trans children and their families, LGBTQ+ advocacy organisations and queer leaders. It concludes with an invitation for others to support the cause via the GLM website.

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