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Youth at State House urge committee to protect gender-affirming health care
Summary
Students and youth organizers testified at the State House during OutRight Vermont Youth Leadership Day, asking a legislative committee to protect access to gender-affirming care for transgender people, especially youth, and raised concerns about misinformation, insurance coverage and affordability.
Youth witnesses told a legislative committee at the State House that protecting gender-affirming health care for transgender people — particularly young people — should be a priority.
Alex Jan Halberg, a senior in high school and a youth organizer, told the committee that they wanted to focus their allotted time on “gender affirming care, what you all plan to do to protect trans individuals in health care, and what we can do to help you help us.” Halberg said misinformation and hostile rhetoric were harming young transgender people and asked the committee to “work to protect gender affirming care, specifically for youth in Vermont.”
Emmett Wiggins, also a senior, said gender-affirming care “has greatly improved and ultimately saved my life,” and told the committee he was concerned about potential new limits on access. Wiggins said some services are available in Vermont but that affordability and insurance coverage are major barriers, especially for people under 19. “Affordability is just the biggest barrier, I would say,” he said.
A committee member asked Halberg to clarify what they meant by “invalidation”; Halberg responded that invalidation includes treating transgender identities as “silly or ridiculous” or suggesting they are not genuine, and that simple acts of understanding and respect could reduce harm. An audience member identified as Mark asked whether care required travel out of state; Wiggins said some specialized surgeons may be out of state and that insurance coverage is often the main limitation.
Witnesses urged the committee to use its voice to normalize transgender identities and to consider youth in any decisions that would affect access to care. The testimony did not include any formal motions or votes by the committee during the portion of the transcript provided.
The testimonies came during OutRight Vermont Youth Leadership Day at the State House; no legislative action or bill number was cited on the record in the provided transcript.
