UPDATE: Hospitals across Chicago are rapidly halting gender-affirming care for minors due to new policies under the Trump administration, leaving families in urgent distress. Families are scrambling for care as options dwindle, putting the mental health and well-being of transgender youth on the line.
Robert Skrezyna fears for his 15-year-old daughter, Chloe, who relies on hormone therapy. “I’m honestly afraid I’d have one less kid,” he said during a family event for transgender children in Lombard, Illinois, as he worries that Lurie Children’s Hospital may soon cease providing essential care.
Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, an executive order threatened to pull federal funding from healthcare providers offering gender-affirming services to those under 19, labeling it “chemical and surgical mutilation.” Following this directive, hospitals such as UChicago Medicine and Rush University System have significantly reduced pediatric gender-affirming care, leaving just **20 to 25 practices** in Illinois willing to provide treatment for minors aged **16 to 19**.
Advocates warn this situation has led to a healthcare crisis for transgender youth. “We are facing a health care crisis for these kids,” said Asher McMaher, executive director of Trans Up Front Illinois. Before the policy shift, Illinois had over **100 providers** offering gender-affirming care. Now, only **about 10 practices** cater to younger children needing puberty blockers, with major hospitals retracting their services entirely.
A family from Chicago’s South Side recently received a notification from UChicago Medicine that it would no longer offer gender-affirming care. The mother reported, “I have no referrals for you. I don’t know where you can go. I’m as devastated as you are.” Many providers, facing federal scrutiny, have dropped these services, leaving families without options during critical times.
With mounting pressure from the federal government, including over **20 subpoenas** sent to clinics performing transgender medical procedures on minors, many healthcare providers are caught in a moral bind. Dr. Jessica Lapinski, a family medicine doctor, continues to offer gender-affirming care through a membership model, charging **$150 a month** for treatments. “These are families and kids that just want to live a normal life,” she said, emphasizing the importance of continuous care despite the risks involved.
Research indicates that access to gender-affirming care significantly improves mental health outcomes for transgender youth. In contrast, clinical psychologist Lindsay Doyle noted a rise in distress among families as care options dwindle. “There’s a lot of moral injury,” she said, referring to the emotional toll on providers forced to cease care.
Illinois has joined **16 other states** in a lawsuit against the Trump administration to challenge these restrictions, highlighting the urgent need for continued access to healthcare for transgender minors. Governor JB Pritzker has announced a legal hotline for families navigating these challenges.
Parents are left grappling with uncertainty. One mother of a **15-year-old** child expressed frustration over hospitals succumbing to federal pressure, saying, “I wish I saw them fighting back more.” Meanwhile, Skrezyna, whose daughter continues to receive care, understands the difficult position hospitals are in but emphasizes the personal stakes involved.
Chloe Skrezyna voiced her concerns about the future of care, stating, “Without that care, they might not get to live as authentic versions of themselves.” Families across Illinois are now in desperate need of support as they seek alternatives for their children.
The situation remains tense and fluid as advocates and families push for change. The community is rallying for immediate action to ensure that gender-affirming care remains accessible for all minors in need.
As this developing story unfolds, families are urged to stay informed and reach out for help, as the future of gender-affirming healthcare hangs in the balance.
