Students condemn NYU Langone’s silence on gender-affirming care

Dozens of students and community members rallied in Garibaldi Plaza on Tuesday, demanding that NYU expand its protections for transgender students and address NYU Langone Health’s decision to deny gender-affirming care to at least two patients last month. 

Students chanted “When trans rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back,” “Don’t comply, don’t give in” and “Protect trans students, let them live.” Organized by NYU’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, the rally featured speakers from NYU’s LGBTQ+ Center, NYU’s Queer Union, Gemstones, United Auto Workers and Brown Sugar Brilliance. 

“It has been weeks since we have sort of heard what is happening to our students and to trans youth in the system,” Mya Sato, Gallatin senior and co-president of Gemstones — the bi-pan group at the LGBTQ+ center — told WSN. “For us to not be included in the conversation, or to at least not even have some notice of what’s going on is dishonest, in our opinion, and it’s also cowardice.”

The demonstration comes nearly a month after NYU Langone canceled appointments for two 12-year-olds on puberty blockers, which came days after President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for hospitals to cease gender-affirming care for patients under the age of 19. The decision resulted in mass protests and drew widespread attention, including that of State Attorney General Letitia James, who said New York hospitals must continue offering the care.

While NYU Langone has now reportedly rescheduled its appointments, the medical center never officially updated its policy or released any statement on the matter. Molly Buhl-Eaton, CAS first-year and speaker at the rally, told WSN that the development is “shocking and scary” for students — especially without clear communication.

“We need to know that NYU is willing to support its marginalized students that already have such a hard time in large organizations and large institutions like this,” Xen Ayra, a CAS senior and protester at the demonstration, told WSN. “We would like some kind of statement that says ‘Hey, we hear you and we’re here to support you.’”

The protest was initially to take place in Schwartz Plaza — the barricaded area between Bobst Library and the Stern School of Business — but was moved to Garibaldi Plaza after Campus Safety officers closed down the walkway to all pedestrian traffic Tuesday morning. After a few speeches, organizers told the group that nearby New York City Policy Department officers told them they could no longer use their megaphone without necessary permitting.

Andrea Gordillo, a candidate for representative of 2nd Council District, said that she is disappointed in NYU Langone’s decision to cancel appointments for gender-affirming care and overall silence in defending the trans community. Gordillo detailed research that found that denying gender-affirming care puts youth at greater risk of depression, suicide and anxiety. 

“What’s happening right now is really a dangerous precedent, so it’s really important that people are aware that this is happening and put as much political pressure on their representatives to do something about it,” Gordillo told WSN. “We can’t allow politicians to scapegoat groups of identities and put them against one another.”

At the demonstration, organizers also advertised a petition demanding NYU protect its trans students. The letter — which currently has over a dozen faculty sponsors and around four dozen student sponsors — calls for the medical center to explain its decision, release a statement to address policy changes and not name NYU Langone CEO Robert Grossman as an honorary degree recipient at this year’s commencement.

“A lot of us wouldn’t have been here 40, 50 years ago if not for student movements like this,” Sato told WSN. “It is important to feed that back into the community to make sure that students like us in the future can continue to be here.”

Contact Amelia Hernandez Gioia and Jennifer Jesus at news@nyunews.com.

This story Students condemn NYU Langone’s silence on gender-affirming care appeared first on Washington Square News.

Dozens of students and community members rallied in Garibaldi Plaza on Tuesday, demanding that NYU expand its protections for transgender students and address NYU Langone Health’s decision to deny gender-affirming care to at least two patients last month.  Students chanted “When trans rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back,” “Don’t…