Stanford Medicine ends surgical sex changes for minors after pressure from Trump admin

“After careful review of the latest actions and directives from the federal government and following consultations with clinical leadership, including our multidisciplinary LGBTQ+ program and its providers, Stanford Medicine paused providing gender-related surgical procedures as part of our comprehensive range of medical services for LGBTQ+ patients under the age of 19, effective June 2,” Standford said in a statement given to the LA Times.

The decision from Stanford follows a similar decision from the Children's Hospital in Los Angeles which decided to shut down its program providing around 3,000 minors sex change procedures.

“We took this step to protect both our providers and patients,” Stanford added in the statement. “This was not a decision we made lightly, especially knowing how deeply this impacts the individuals and families who depend on our essential care and support.”

Stanford Pediatric and Adolescent Gender Clinic, although it will shut down any surgeries for sex change operations, will continue to provide puberty blockers as well as cross-sex hormones to children.

The executive order from President Donald Trump that was signed in January stated, “It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures."

Although a federal judge blocked the order in March, the Department of Justice issued a memorandum from Attorney General Pam Bondi which states that "female genital mutilation" is a felony. The FBI also announced that it will be investigating hospitals and doctors who offer sex changes for minors.