Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblymember Harvey Epstein Send Letter to NYU Langone Demanding Continuation of Gender-affirming Care for Youth Under 19

Robert L. Grossman
Dean and Chief Executive Officer
NYU Langone Health
February 3, 2025

Dear Dean Grossman,
Thank you for your dedication to providing high-quality medical care to New Yorkers.
We were disturbed to hear of NYU Langone's recent decision to deny gender-affirming care to people under the age of 19 in our city.

Gender-affirming care is life-saving for young trans, intersex, and gender nonbinary people. In 2020, the Trevor Project found that 54% of young people who identify as transgender or nonbinary have seriously considered suicide in the past year and 29 percent have attempted to take their own life. Gender-affirming care is known to significantly improve mental health. In a 1-year study, young people who received gender-affirming care were at 60% lower odds of moderate or severe depression and 73% lower odds of suicidality over a 12-month follow-up.

By discontinuing new clients for gender-affirming care, young people in our city will be at an increased risk of serious mental health concerns and suicide. Hospitals are meant to save lives, not endanger them.

We call on you to reverse your decision to suspend gender-affirming care and renew your commitment to transgender and nonbinary young people in our city.

We would appreciate a response to this letter by February 17th, 2025. Please do not hesitate to contact Senator Gonzalez’s Communications Director at veloso@nysenate.gov with questions or concerns.

Sincerely, 

Senator Kristen Gonzalez (District 59) & Assembly Member Harvey Epstein (District 74)