Vivent Health Deeply Opposes Passage of AB 465 That Bans Gender Affirming Care for Minors

Vivent Health is greatly disappointed that the Wisconsin Legislature passed AB 465 which will prohibit the delivery of gender affirming health care services to minors.

Decades of clinical experience and research has repeatedly upheld the safety and necessity of gender-affirming care for transgender individuals. This legislation contradicts the broad consensus of every major U.S medical and mental health organization, including the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Psychological Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, that access to life-saving gender-affirming support and care for transgender young people and adults is essential to reducing negative long-term outcomes including severe distress, depression, and suicide.

“We are deeply disappointed that our legislators have joined this growing national trend, once again prioritizing making life harder for trans kids instead of tackling the many real issues impacting Wisconsinites today,” said Bill Keeton, Chief Advocacy Officer at Vivent Health. “In denying access to this life-saving care, state lawmakers are inserting themselves into decisions that should be made in consultation with family members, loved ones and a medical care team. Barriers to gender affirming care will only worsen the already unacceptable health disparities impacting LGBTQ+ communities — especially trans women of color who already experience disproportionate HIV rates and are less likely to be retained in HIV care or have achieved viral suppression — and will put trans youth in the state at greater risk of self-harm and suicide.”