Would you stand out in the pouring rain for the ones you love? Downpours, whipping winds, and even the busy Downtown Pittsburgh sidewalks couldn’t stop protesters from rallying together in a fight for transgender rights. After UPMC took action towards stopping transgender youth and young adults from receiving gender-affirming care, Trans YouUniting joined together outside the U.S Steel Tower, headquarters of UPMC, on April 3 to let them know they are fighting back.
The start of this movement began back at President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Directly after his inauguration, he signed a slew of executive orders regarding gender identity, seeking to erase the LGBTQIA+ community. One particular executive order halts federal funding for gender-affirming medical care for those under 19.
Though executive orders do have the same power as a law, these orders are still left up to judicial review and interpretation by the courts. They are not all powerful.
Two months later, we are already seeing the effects of this fear mongering [from the executive orders]. There have already been accounts of a 16-year-old, a 13-year-old, and even an 18-year-old being denied their affirming care in one way or another by UPMC. With UPMC being the largest healthcare provider in Pennsylvania, it leaves little to no other options for these residents.
Gender-affirming care itself is very personal to rally organizer, main speaker, and founder of Trans YOUniting, Dena Stanley. As a Black transgender woman, Stanley has struggled to find safe and accessible care even at the simplest degree.
“I’ve lived through times when access to healthcare, especially gender-affirming care, was nearly impossible,” explains Stanley. “I know firsthand the harm that comes from being denied the care we need to survive. This rally is about protecting our lives and demanding change. I hope it sends a clear message: trans people, especially Black trans people, are not backing down.”
It’s not just people with first-hand experiences who are showing up and speaking out either. Pittsburgh resident Kira Yeversay ran down to the rally last minute after being reminded by a few friends.
“I’m not the most up-to-date on what is happening as other people are but I’m here regardless,” says Yeversay. “Healthcare is important for everyone and healthcare for trans people is particularly vulnerable right now. UPMC shouldn’t be making things more difficult for people who already have hard lives.”
Extending beyond just everyday citizens, Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania officials are also voicing their support. One attendee, Allie Petonic from the North Side, is actually a candidate for the school board in Pittsburgh. Not only is she rallying to support the right to healthcare for transgender persons, but aslo speaking out against discrimination of community members in general.
“When big institutions like UPMC make decisions to discriminate against community members, other institutions like governments and school districts watch and take note,” says Petonic. “It’s simply a worker’s right to be able to count on care that affirms who they are and not have a provider stand in their way. So, we’re drawing the line here and showing UPMC it will not be an easy fight.”
It’s easy to see from speaking with crowd members and leaders even before the rally begins that this movement is in full force and there’s no stopping it. Chants start off the assembly but the speakers are who keep the momentum going.
As a crowd forms outside of the UPMC Headquarters, familiar faces appear to take the mic, some of which include QBurgh contributor Miracle Jones of 1Hood Media Academy, former City of Pittsburgh Press Secretary Maria Montaño, Pennsylvania House Representative La’Tasha D. Mayes, and Mayor Ed Gainey. Each one of these individuals takes time to speak from the heart, highlighting the power that even acts like this one can have as long as everyone sticks together. The way these speakers put it, UPMC is caving to orders that are already under scrutiny from courts across the country.
Possibly the most important view on this though is from the parent of the 18-year-old, Salem, a patient who was recently denied top surgery from UPMC. Cori Fraser remembers the day the phone call came through from the surgeon, leaving them and their child in devastation.
“Salem was scheduled to have top surgery last week, and three days before we got a call from the surgeon saying, ‘I’m so sorry, I know you need this surgery but if I do it I’m pretty sure they will take my department away.’” Fraser tells the crowd. “Salem is 18. Salem is a legal adult which means they are not just legislating what we can do as children but also as adults. They are setting the stage to take away all gender-affirming healthcare.”
After Fraser tells their story, they present one of the integral parts of this gathering, a letter to UPMC’s CEO and Board of Directors from Mayor Ed Gainey as well as transgender and elected leaders. This letter directly calls for action from UPMC on four specific points.
The demands are as follows: Immediately reinstate full gender affirming care for new and existing patients at CHP in Pittsburgh given the current circumstances; Should a court order, law, or regulation specifically mandate UPMC cease direct gender affirming care for young trans people, UPMC must enthusiastically support and fund alternative providers to ensure trans youth receive the medically-necessary healthcare they need to survive; Establish an advisory committee for UPMC’s administration on gender affirming care, comprised of transgender youth and community leaders, and healthcare professionals, to meet before May 1, 2025; Not retaliate against LGBTQ+ communities and continue funding for local LGBTQ+ programs and LGBTQ+ healthcare.
All of these demands are with the intent to create a system that respects diversity and moves towards a safer future. Plus, Mayor Gainey is even taking action within his own administration to increase accessibility for all.
“Healthcare providers, and definitely so-called ‘public charities,’ can’t discriminate, and the city of Pittsburgh has laws on the books to ensure people have equal access to healthcare regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation,” says Mayor Gainey. “My administration’s law department is examining legal avenues to enforce our city’s non-discrimination policies, and we expect health systems that operate here to follow the law.”
Mayor Ed Gainey sees this letter and rally as just one small piece of the puzzle to protecting the citizens of the United States, especially in Pittsburgh. In reality, this move from UPMC is a warning to everyone. No matter who you are, you’re also at risk.
“I think what comes out of today is what Olsen said who spoke before me, ‘unprecedented unity,’” explains Mayor Gainey. “It’s going to take a combination of all communities to win this. It’s a great opportunity for everybody to have a better understanding of each other and why human rights are a right that everybody deserves. Whether you’re in the immigrant community, African American community, LGBTQ+ community, veteran community, or even senior citizen community, you’re under attack. As long as he [Trump] can manipulate, he’s all right with that but at the end of the day, it’s unprecedented unity that is going to change the game.”
There’s still a long way to go and this letter is only the beginning of protecting our fellow neighbors to allow them to be the person they need to be. But, there are steps that anyone can take beyond attending a rally to have a part in the fight.
“The rally is one moment in a much larger movement,” says Stanley. “Supporting organizations like Trans YOUniting and other Black- and trans-led groups that are doing the daily, on-the-ground work to keep our communities safe and resourced is a great start. That means donating, volunteering, showing up, and amplifying our work. But, you can also call out anti-trans policies and hold institutions accountable. It’s important to uplift trans voices not just during crises, but consistently. This is about more than one rally it’s about building long-term power and making sure trans folks can live full, dignified lives.”
