December 2025

Sutter Health has joined other hospitals that have decided to end gender affirming care to youth (under age 19). This is contrary to California law: as the Department of Managed Health Care says, “health plans licensed by the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and insurers licensed by the California Department of Insurance (CDI) are required by California law to provide health plan enrollees who identify as transgender, gender diverse, or intersex (TGI) with medically necessary Gender Affirming Care.”

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has been a leader in protecting trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer folk against the anti-trans efforts of the federal administration. In November, he issued a “Know Your Rights” document on health care, saying “In California, state law protects you from discrimination and guarantees access to medically necessary care for everyone, regardless of gender identity. Insurance companies in California have a legal obligation to provide timely, safe, and equitable access to healthcare services, so you can get the support you need.”

We can be sure that AG Bonta is getting plenty of mail from the anti-trans forces. Show him your support by thanking him for what he’s done and urging him to keep up the good work.

Attorney General Rob Bonta

916-445-9555 / https://oag.ca.gov/contact/general-contact-form 

You can use these talking points, or write your own. Please use your own words whenever possible, and say as much about your personal situation as feels safe.

• I am the parent of a trans child
• I am the parent of a child who needs/has needed gender affirming care
• I am a California resident, living in _____ County
• I want my child and all LGBTQ+ people to be able to get all necessary health care, including gender affirming care
• Sutter Health and other California health care systems and hospitals are planning to end gender affirming care for people under 19
• California law requires health care providers to provide gender affirming care
• Thank you for your recent guidance making clear that all Californians have the right to gender affirming care
• Thank you for your support for the rights of LGBTQI+ people
• Please take strong measures to ensure that Sutter Health and all other California health care systems and hospitals keep providing gender affirming care, as California law requires