Nurses Rally Against Kaiser Permanente’s Cuts to Transgender Youth Care in San Francisco: Perspectives from Both Sides

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Nurses in San Francisco protested Kaiser Permanente’s new pause on gender-affirming surgeries for young people.

The hospital system is putting procedures on hold next month for anyone younger than 19, citing Trump Administration actions.

“This action today is to communicate that the nurses’ union, parents of trans kids, our patients who are trans, do not agree with this decision, we don’t support it, and we won’t be quiet about it,” said Sydney Simpson, a nurse at Kaiser Permanente

Nurses, staff, and allies including State Senator Scott Wiener taking a stand.

“We’re going to fight, and we’re going to win, so let’s do this,” he said.

“We are supporting the brave medical providers who are standing up for the rights of trans kids. There are nurses and other providers who know that giving kids health care they need will save lives,” said Anna G., a protester.

RELATED: Kaiser pausing gender-affirming surgeries for patients 19 years old and under

Kaiser releasing a statement Friday, in part:

“Our nurses are compassionate caregivers, and we appreciate the union raising their concern for patients seeking gender affirming care. This is an extremely challenging and stressful time for our patients, as well as for our clinicians whose mission is to care for them.”

Kaiser is one of several California health care providers to make this policy change amid increasing pressure from the federal government, including subpoenas from the Department of Justice.

Kaiser in its statement, writing:

“In response to these federal actions, many health systems and clinicians across the country have paused or discontinued providing gender-affirming care for adolescents.”

“I think this 100% political performance. I think they are capitulating to the Trump Administration. I think this is a communication with the Department of Justice, we are adequately intimidated and this is our response,” said Simpson.

MORE: Stanford Medicine pauses gender-related surgeries for young people under age 19

The rally also met with opposition with some saying Kaiser made the right choice.

“Once you can buy cigarettes, drive a car, buy alcohol sure…what do you want to do when you’re an adult, fine, but leave these babies alone,” Yvette Corkrean, a protester

MORE: Trump administration sues California over transgender athlete policies

Gender-affirming surgeries on children are rare, reserved for extreme cases. Kaiser will still provide other forms of gender-affirming care for children.

“It’s so important to me that these kids and their families know that there are people out there who support them and know that their decision is wrong,” Shelly B., a protester.