Fear and Defiance as Michigan Health Systems End Gender-Affirming Care

How LGBTQ+ community members, political leaders and health professionals are responding to federal pressure

Demonstrators at the rally for gender affirmation care in U of M campus, Ann Arbor. Sept. 11, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz/Michigan Advance — Demonstrators at the rally for gender affirmation care on the University of Michigan campus, Ann Arbor. Sept. 11, 2025. Photo: Erick Diaz/Michigan Advance

Published: September 26, 2025 | Last Updated: September 26, 2025

At the intersection of Fuller Road and Medical Center Drive outside the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, a wave of chants criticizing the health care institution echoed alongside shouts and honking of drivers.

The scene was a show of frustration and anger, all in support of transgender youth who will now be denied gender-affirming care due to the hospital system's decision to end that care.

At least 100 demonstrators, carrying signs and waving transgender flags, were there among students and community members who gathered on Sept. 11 to protest the decision following federal pressure.

The statewide hospital network in August said that it would stop providing medically necessary gender-affirming health care services — such as prescribing puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones — for patients under age 19. University of Michigan Health and its Michigan Medicine brand argued the decision was made due to an ongoing federal "criminal and civil investigation into gender-affirming care for minors."

"The [system] is one of multiple institutions across the country that have received a federal subpoena as part of a criminal and civil investigation into gender-affirming care for minors," said Mary Masson, senior director of public relations at Michigan Medicine, in a statement in response to the rally. "In light of that investigation, and given escalating external threats and risks, we will no longer provide gender-affirming hormonal therapies and puberty blocker medications for minors."

In mid-July, the U.S. Department of Justice issued several subpoenas to dozens of health care institutions and doctors across the country "involved in performing transgender medical procedures on children." The action by the federal government under an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, seeking to limit funding for hospitals and providers offering gender-affirming care to minors, are aimed at what the administration has called "gender ideology extremism and restoring biological truth."

Demonstrators at the rally for gender affirmation care on the University of Michigan campus, Ann Arbor. Sept. 11, 2025. Photo: Erick Diaz/Michigan Advance

At the rally, demonstrators were joined by a series of speakers, including community leaders, local politicians and hospital officials, all focused on the vital importance of these services for many transgender youths. They also touched on the threat posed by the decision and the ripple effect for other Michigan health institutions, bolstered by anonymous testimonies from affected transgender minors.

Washtenaw County Commissioner Yousef Rabhi, a former state representative and the legislative director for the Michigan Nurses Association, said transgender youth in his community deserve necessary and life-sustaining care. Taking that away from them was "a crime."

"And at the end of the day, I want to remind us all of the people who make the decisions at this university," Rabhi said. "They're elected by all of us. Every two years, you have an opportunity to elect regents. Use that opportunity to hold them accountable."

Christina Helou, a doctor of physical therapy at University of Michigan Health, told Michigan Advance that restricting access to gender-affirming care was irresponsible.

"This decision is not based on fact," Helou said. "It is not based on science. It is not based on medical health care evidence. It is strictly based on political pressure from this administration because they're transphobic."

Although the university didn't specify details of the federal subpoena it received, a report from Talking Points Memo showed that the justice department's requests received on July 14 was similar to those sent to Philadelphia's Children's Hospital, where "individual doctors received a hold order not to destroy documents" and the DOJ was "pursuing a civil and criminal investigation."

Doctors are now worried they could face heavy legal fees and potentially lose their medical licenses.

The report, published on Aug. 25, also explains that U-M members were already aware that they would receive new federal requirements a few weeks in advance. DOJ lawyers were investigating doctors for allegedly misusing their authority to prescribe medication, among other potential charges.

Within these federal requests, The New York Times reported that, based on the subpoena sent to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the justice department requested detailed personal information of minor patients. This included their names, dates of birth, social security numbers and parents' information. Additionally, information about hospital staff, contractors, and affiliates involved in gender-affirming health services, as well as communications between the hospital and providers, was also required.

On Sept. 11, Corewell Health released a statement to its patients announcing it, too, would no longer provide gender-affirming hormonal therapies and puberty blockers to minors, arguing a "serious risk of legal and regulatory action." Corewell is now the latest Michigan health care system to discontinue gender-affirming care for minors under federal pressure.

On Sept. 13, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said she was deeply disappointed in Corewell's decision.

"They have chosen to capitulate to the federal administration's discriminatory campaign against the trans community, despite Corewell not being a target of any federal action in this realm," Nessel said in a statement. "Corewell's shortsighted approach to conform their treatment options and 'obey in advance' fails to adequately consider the long-term consequences to the health, safety and well-being of their patients. Michigan law has not changed; gender-affirming care remains legal and is approved healthcare by leading healthcare associations."

Nessel also said the hospitals have chosen to disregard science, best practices, and the recommendations of every major medical society in the nation. She said that created a dangerous precedent that could have long-lasting implications on all patients, not just transgender youth.

"We have seen virtue signaling from the federal administration that they intend to detrimentally attack many other areas of public health and medical treatment," Nessel said. "We must ask ourselves: what other medical practices or care will this Administration target next – reproductive care, vaccines, scientific studies – and will our healthcare institutions quickly succumb to such pressure each and every time?"

Parents of transgender children have been left in a state of uncertainty and frustration.

"She had her exit appointment last Thursday, and after that, she became aware that the world is coming to get her. She is devastated," said Kami Michels, 46, a board member of the Jim Toy Community Center, who told the Advance about hardships her 16-year-old transgender daughter has felt since U-M stopped her gender-affirming care after five years.

Even though Masson specified that U of M is working closely with all impacted patients, and that they "will continuously support the well-being of our patients, their families, and our teams," for Michels, the reality looks different.

Although her daughter was able to secure a prescription that will last for years, Michels feels guilty because not everyone has been as fortunate.

"I have already secured her ongoing care, which not everyone is going to be able to do," she said.

Michels also criticized the university for abandoning transgender children, claiming that the university's words of support for the community do not reflect actions in line with federal guidance.

"Don't send us another email about how much you care about civil rights," Michels said. "You say you won't tolerate totalitarianism; then why are you letting it run your hospital? We are coming for your pocketbook. … Not a single cent of our money will go to you because we know that's all you really care about. We will not stand by while you abandon the kids who need you most."

This article has been republished courtesy of Michigan Advance under Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jon King for questions: [email protected].