| Photo by Lara Jameson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-white-and-black-megaphone-8898633/ TLDR/Summary: PFLAG Portland asks everyone to submit comments opposing the federal government’s proposed rules that would effectively prevent hospitals from providing gender affirming care to transgender minors. This includes puberty blockers and hormone therapy. We have until February 17, 2026 to submit personal stories of the harm these rules would cause transgender people, their families, and loved ones. Comments are essential because, in litigation, the prosecution (trans advocates) will use your comments as evidence of harm. People can submit comments anonymously through Basic Rights Oregon or publicly via the Federal Register. What’s happening? – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that any hospital that provides gender affirming care “procedures” on people under the age of 18 will be ineligible to receive Medicaid or Medicare funding. – This does not just mean that Medicaid couldn’t be used to help pay for gender affirming care. It means that the hospital would likely not receive Medicaid at all. The loss of this funding could effectively cause hospitals to shut down. – The proposed rules would severely limit transgender minors from receiving gender affirming health care, including lifesaving puberty blockers and hormone therapy. HHS considers puberty blockers and hormone therapy as “procedures.” – Healthcare is supposed to be controlled by the state. The federal government is getting around this by arguing that gender affirming care isn’t healthcare. Will this affect Oregonians’ ability to access care? – Yes, if the rules go into effect. As of right now (January 8, 2026), they are not in effect. – After proposed rules are issued, there is a 60-day comment period when the federal government must receive and consider all public comments. – The 60-day waiting period ends on February 17, 2026. What can we do to protect access to gender affirming care? – Submit official comments (on the record) about how you, your loved ones, or your community would be impacted by these proposed rules. How will comments help? Will the administration listen? – These proposed rules will likely go to litigation, and the prosecution will use your comments as evidence of harm. Litigation is limited to what is on the record. We cannot fight a bad rule without comments on the record that explain why the rule is harmful. – The administration is required to read and consider all comments. Who should comment, and what should we say? – Anyone who provides gender affirming care, receives gender affirming care, or cares about someone who does should comment before February 16th. – Personal stories are so important. You don’t need to provide legal analysis. Focus on impacts, harms, benefits. Personal stories are how the law impacts you. Highlight the stories of people seeking access to care. How do I submit my comments, and how can I protect my identity while providing a public comment? – Great question. There are two routes you can take for sharing comments: – If you are a trans person or a family member of a trans person, do not include personally identifying information. Share your comments via Basic Rights Oregon’s online comment page. They will submit your comments anonymously. – People with less risk of sharing their personal information should share directly on the Federal Register. Any other tips about what to write? – If you an online template to help your writing, you must personalize your message and make it unique. The federal government uses AI to read and summarize comments. If approximately 70% of your text matches what someone else has submitted, your comments will be grouped together and considered as a single comment. When do we need to send in comments? – Now …or by February 16, 2026. The comment period ends on 2/17, but we know you’ll want to be certain that your comment is officially recorded. |
