Advocacy Resources for State Legislation Affecting Transgender Patients and Healthcare
The Endocrine Society remains committed to supporting necessary gender-affirming medical care based on medical best-practices to all transgender individuals.
Within the last several legislative cycles, several states have introduced legislation that have prompted discussions about the diagnosis and appropriate medical treatment of transgender children. We have spoken out against this harmful state legislation and continue to monitor these bills as they make their way through the court system and up to the federal level.
Although we are concerned about various state legislative activities, the Endocrine Society Board has directed the Society to focus our advocacy efforts at the federal level where we can have impact because we do not have the resources, capacity, and expertise to advocate at the state-level. However, we continue to support our members who provide important gender-affirming care to their patients. Policies concerning the diagnosis and treatment of transgender individuals should be based on science, not politics.
In order to assist our members who may have an interest in this issue at the state-level, we have gathered a variety of resources on this page to help guide you and encourage you to join other interested organizations who have state-level advocacy efforts.
Please note: Effective advocacy requires appropriate timing, understanding the lawmaker’s position/background on the issue, knowing the status of legislation at issue, and having an appropriate and specific “ask” or request of the lawmaker.
Two notes of caution regarding transgender advocacy:
Transgender issues are controversial. Social media often is not a helpful way to discuss transgender health care because it can lead to significant backlash and, unintentionally provide a stronger platform to groups with an anti-trans agenda. In addition, several physicians have found that they have placed themselves in personal danger when advocating for transgender health care.
All our documents are public facing and can be used as references in correspondence with lawmakers and stakeholders. Below we have linked to a few resources on how to effectively engage lawmakers and be an effective advocate at any policy level.