Past and current NYC Pride grand marshals are urging Heritage of Pride to bar hospital systems that stopped providing gender-affirming care to transgender minors from participating in the New York City Pride March on June 28. The letter, organized by the Gender Liberation Movement, specifically names NYU Langone Health, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian.
It also calls for excluding any medical institution that cooperated with federal efforts to obtain sensitive patient records of transgender minors. The petition has drawn support from 20 grand marshals, LGBTQ+ organizations, community leaders, and families of transgender children. Signers include Bowen Yang, Dominique Jackson, Peppermint, Jay Walker, Michelle Visage, TS Madison, and Jazz Jennings.
Raquel Willis, co-founder of Gender Liberation Movement said, “Each year, we are tested against the values of our ancestors and transcestors during Pride…This year, when our vulnerable next generation of transgender and nonbinary youth are being denied care, NYC Pride must hold the line and disallow hospitals that have unlawfully upheld hateful policies. Affirming families of trans youth are on the frontlines of the fight against fascism, we owe it to them to defend their access and safety.” The call follows growing pressure on hospitals nationwide over gender-affirming care for minors, including a criminal subpoena issued to NYU Langone seeking patient records.
