Car horns blared for hours near the University Hospital Thursday afternoon as drivers honked in solidarity with approximately 300 demonstrators — students, parents of transgender children and other University of Michigan community members — protesting Michigan Medicine’s decision to cease providing gender-affirming care to individuals under the age of 19.
Organized by the Huron Valley Democratic Socialists of America and the University’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, as well as the Trans Unity Coalition, the rally drew a diverse crowd holding pride flags and signs that read “First Do No Harm” and “I Love My Trans Son,” among other slogans.
University alum Kami Michels, the parent of a trans child and a board member of the Jim Toy Community Center, said she was not pleased with Michigan Medicine’s decision.
“President Grasso, don’t send us another email about how much you care about civil rights,” Michels said. “You say you won’t tolerate totalitarianism; then why are you letting it run your hospital? You speak of values, but where were your values when my daughter lost her care? Your silence speaks louder than your slogans. You should be ashamed.”
The decision will cut off access to gender-affirming care for a large number of transgender youth, given that Michigan Medicine is one of the leaders in the country and state in hospital rankings and services.
Mary Masson, Michigan Medicine’s director of public relations, wrote in an email to The Michigan Daily that the University had been pressured into this decision by a federal subpoena and would work to support impacted individuals.
“We recognize the gravity and impact of this decision for our patients and our community,” Masson wrote. “We are working closely with all those impacted, and we will continuously support the well-being of our patients, their families, and our teams.”
Washtenaw County Commissioner Yousef Rabhi also spoke at the rally. Rabhi said he felt by increased surveillance and cuts to programs that promote inclusion, the University’s Board of Regents is capitulating to fascism.
“When you cower to fascism, you become a fascist,” Rabhi said. “They took away (diversity, equity and inclusion). They militarized campus, put cameras everywhere and made it a police state so that students and workers and faculty can’t express themselves anymore. Now they’re coming after our trans youth in this community.”
Music, Theater & Dance senior Grace Jun, co-chair of the YDSA at the University, said Michigan Medicine should not surrender to the Trump Administration’s policies on transgender issues.
“The Trump administration is a monster that is trying to systemically kill communities of people by taking away necessities for their survival and well-being,” Jun said. “YDSA demands that (the University) take an active stance against the Trump administration, fight for life-saving gender-affirming care. This is their legal and moral obligation to fulfill;their actions are hurting children.”
Activists have previously criticized the University for restricting student protests by suspending a campus activist group, pursuing disciplinary charges against demonstrators and retroactively adjusting their Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Jun said she believed the University’s actions are motivated by greed.
“To the Board of Regents: you continue to disappoint and enrage your students and workers by actively trying to oppress your community members’ right to the freedom of speech and right to protest, but anything for the precious endowment and money, right?”
Several speakers at the rally proposed strategies to respond to the University. Michels said alumni should financially boycott the University.
“You fucked with our kids, and now we are coming for your pocketbook,” Michels said. “We will not spend one more dime on Michigan football tickets. We will not donate one more dollar to the Alumni Association. Not a single cent of our money will go to you, because we know that’s all you really care about.”
Rahbi told the crowd that another mode of protest Michigan residents have is to vote out the current regents.
“Every two years, you have an opportunity to elect regents,” Rahbi said. “Use that opportunity to hold them accountable. If they want to bow down to fascists, if they want to bow down to Donald Trump, if they want to bow down to an administration that’s more interested in billionaires and their profits than they are in average, everyday people like those of us standing here, they’re going to have a moment of reckoning coming soon.”
In an interview with The Daily, LSA senior Pragya Choudhary said he was disappointed in the University.
“They made the decision because they’re scared, because they’re cowards,” Choudhary said. “Instead of holding to the values of art, science and most importantly, truth, they would rather fall to ignorance and, frankly, stupidity and mendacity.”
Daily Staff Reporter Glenn Hedin can be reached at heglenn@umich.edu.
The post Activists hold rally outside University Hospital in support of gender-affirming care appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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