CA LGBTQ HHS Network Responds to House Passage of Reconciliation Bill that Strips Healthcare from TGI Californians

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network released the following statement from Director Dannie Ceseña in response to the House passing a reconciliation bill following late-night debate and an early morning vote:

“A stark reality faces approximately 36,000 transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex (TGI) Californians who depend on Medi-Cal: their access to life-saving gender-affirming care is under siege. A recent, deeply concerning vote by the U.S. House of Representatives, reportedly conducted with minimal transparency, threatens to strip these vital services from Medicaid coverage nationwide. Such a devastating move would undoubtedly unleash a wave of increased mental health distress, escalate suicidal ideation, and rip away desperately needed medical care that allows TGI individuals to live authentically and safely.

This federal action, carried out by legislators far removed from the daily realities of those impacted, casts a dark shadow over the well-being of our community in California. To deny gender-affirming care is to deny humanity and ignore the overwhelming medical consensus that underscores its necessity.

The California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network stands incensed and undeterred. We condemn this cowardly legislative maneuver and the profound harm it will inflict. Our resolve is only strengthened to continue our fierce advocacy and unwavering fight for the rights, dignity, and visibility of all TGI people across California. We will not be silenced. We will not be erased. Our existence is not a debate, and our access to healthcare is non-negotiable.”