He likened the inability to access testosterone to trying to operate a car without gas. The thought of losing this access is frightening, he expressed, despite feeling relatively secure in his care in New York. “It instills fear in you, as it feels like you’re erasing my presence,” Drysdale-Ash remarked. “You’re taking away my care when all I want is to live. Sometimes, receiving that care is all people need to live and be themselves. If I can’t be true to myself, who else can I be?” His mother, Jasmine Aldridge, emphasized that her son has not undergone any irreversible treatments. Ceasing testosterone intake, for instance, would trigger the puberty associated with his assigned sex at birth, reversing many effects of the testosterone therapy. Responding to inquiries about why transgender minors can’t wait until adulthood for transition care, Aldridge stated, “There’s the reality that your child may not even live to see 19 if you don’t support them.” Standards of care set by medical organizations like WPATH recommend that transgender minors are treated based on individual circumstances. These guidelines do not recommend any medical transition before puberty. Upon puberty onset, minors with persistent gender dysphoria can start puberty blockers. Adolescents may later begin hormone therapy, and in certain cases, some teens may opt for a double mastectomy. Most major medical associations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, advocate for access to transition care for minors and oppose restrictions on it. Legal actions have been taken to challenge Trump’s directives on transgender care, with lawsuits filed by organizations like the ACLU and Lambda Legal on behalf of transgender individuals and families of trans minors. Several states, including New York, have reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding access to such care for minors. The Department of Justice and the White House have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuits. Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, a senior counsel at Lambda Legal, pointed out that Trump’s executive orders targeting trans rights suggest that restrictions on care for minors are not truly about protecting children. As the legal battle unfolds, Birnbaum has been conveying a consistent message to his patients.
“A safe space. We are going to protect them,” he expressed solemnly. “We will not disrupt their care, and we will assist in preserving their essence as individuals, straightforward and uncomplicated.”
