Statement on Attacks on LGBTQIA+ Rights and Resources

The first day of June marks a month-long celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community. Honoring the progress and the vibrance of this community has been especially important with escalating attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community’s rights.

On June 18, 2025, the Trump Administration announced the termination of the 988 national suicide prevention hotline’s support for LGBTQIA+ callers beginning July 17, 2025. Through providers like the Trevor Project, the 988 Lifeline has served almost 1.3 million youth since the launch of the program in September 2022. Soon, calls/texts will be routed to general crisis centers without LGBTQIA+ specialization. The shutdown of this hotline will have an enormous impact, considering that 1.8 million LGBTQIA+ young people consider suicide every year and are four times more likely to commit suicide than their peers.

On the same day, transgender rights were also seriously curtailed by the new Supreme Court ruling United States v. Skrmetti, in which they upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender affirming care for transgender youth. This decision has wide-ranging implications: it maintains similar bans on gender affirming care across 25 states, which range from prohibiting providers from administering hormones or puberty blockers to prohibiting gender-affirming care surgeries. Although some states have enacted policies to shield patients receiving and/or providers practicing gender affirming care from civil or criminal charges, over 100,000 transgender youth living outside these areas will still face significant barriers to care.

National APAMSA condemns these egregious and cruel decisions against the LGBTQIA+ community, who are already a vulnerable and marginalized population. As we approach the end of this month of celebration, this community faces even greater challenges that infringe on the right to exist and to thrive as their authentic self. Guided by our policy compendium, we stand firm in the belief that all patients, including but not limited to those based on their age, color, sex, gender, and sexual orientation, deserve equitable, evidence-based care. We call on medical professionals and trainees to continue advocating for sexual and gender minorities, and implore local, state, and federal leaders to promote health equity and fight inequities affecting the LGBTQIA+ community.

Please contact your members of Congress to express your opposition against these efforts that degrade and inflict pain on LGBTQIA+ youth. You can use 5 Calls to quickly locate your representatives’ numbers and be prepared with prompts that can help you discuss this particular bill and other issues at ease.

Sign the petition to voice your concern about the end of the LGBTQ Youth 988 Hotline: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/protect-988-suicide-and-crisis-lifeline-for-lgbtq-youth/

For questions about this statement, please reach out to:

LGBTQIA+ Director, Joey Hua-Phan at lgbtqia@apamsa.org

LGBTQIA+ Committee Member, Elijah Liu at diversity.committees@apamsa.org

Rapid Response Director, Brian Leung at rapidresponse@apamsa.org.

LGBTQIA+ Care Is Under Attack.

Patients and professionals are at risk. These are recent federal actions as of June 27, 2025:

Bans on gender-affirming care sweeping across our nation
Terminating crisis lifelines for LGBTQIA+ youth
Pressuring providers into silence

Criminalizing Providers: H.R. 3492

Congress is advancing H.R. 3492, which would:

Make it a federal crime to provide gender-affirming care to minors
Penalize clinicians with up to 10 years in prison

This is not about safety. It’s about eroding medical autonomy and the duty of healthcare providers!

Take action now: action.aclu.org/send-message/protect-trans-care-now

The “Chilling Effect” Is Already Here

The phenomenon describes providers and institutions withdrawing from offering LGBTQIA+ care out of fear of legal, professional, or political consequences.

Across the U.S., providers are:

Asking to be removed from LGBTQIA+ directories
Canceling trainings and support programs
Backing away from DEI partnerships

Protect Your Patients and Yourself

Even in restrictive states, we urge providers to use your voice and position to support LGBTQIA+ patients further by:

Documenting decisions clearly and legally
Using encrypted, secure communication tools
Sharing vetted provider referral lists confidentially
Consulting with organizations like GLMA, ACLU, or Lambda Legal if in doubt

Ask your employers for clear legal guidance and know your rights.

Students: Don’t Be Discouraged

We are the next generation of providers.

Keep learning about gender-affirming care best practices
Seek out affirming preceptors or telehealth shadowing
Use platforms and private peer networks to build experience
Document and report any discriminatory practices during your training. You are protected.

How to Push Back as Providers (Legally + Ethically)

Advocate for inclusive care policies and language
Push for policy reviews on gender and identity
Join or form affirming clinician coalitions locally and nationally
Know how to refer patients to care in other states or via Telehealth

What Can You Still Do as Healthcare Professionals

Clinical Practice

Affirm: Use patients’ names/pronouns. Document care transparently.
Refer Safely: Maintain a trusted network of LGBTQIA+ providers (start with OutCare).
Provide Access: Offer virtual mental health services where care is restricted.
Trauma-Informed Approach: Acknowledge lived experiences. Normalize emotional responses to discrimination.

Education & Advocacy

Train colleagues in LGBTQIA+ cultural competency (OutCare, GLMA offer free modules)
Advocate within your institution for inclusive policies, even when statewide law is regressive
Build cross-discipline alliances: social workers, nurses, legal counsel, DEI officers

Resources for LGBTQIA+ Youth & Their Support Circles

If you are LGBTQIA+ youth, parents, teachers, and/or allies, we stand with you.

Crisis Support & Hotlines

The Trevor Project — 24/7 Crisis Support independent of 988.
1-866-488-7386 | Text “START” to 678678
thetrevorproject.org/get-help
Trans Lifeline — Peer-run and confidential.
1-877-565-8860
translifeline.org
LGBT National Help Center — Youth and senior talk lines.
1-800-246-7743
lgbthotline.org
Love is Respect — National teen dating violence support including LGBTQIA+ relationships.