Penn State Health has altered is policy on those who it will provide gender-affirming care to, it confirmed to Onward State. The organization will no longer provide care for individuals under 19, following an executive order from the Trump administration.

Penn State Health previously did not offer gender-affirming care to individuals under 18. However, after an executive order from the Trump administration, titled “Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” the government had the power to attempt to stop transitions for transgender individuals younger than 19.

“Penn State Health is committed to providing care for transgender and gender-diverse people in a supportive and safe environment,” Penn State Health said in a statement.

“Our Internal Medicine team welcomes individuals aged 19 years and older who are seeking gender affirming primary or consultative care services. In addition, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital operates a Gender Care Clinic, providing psychosocial care to adolescents and young adults (ages 10-24).”

Centre LGBT+, an organization that seeks to protect LGBT+ individuals, condemned the decision in a statement.

“Centre LGBT+ expresses our extreme concern, disappointment, and outrage over Penn State Health’s decision to restrict access to gender-affirming care for trans youth  — a decision that will have profound and life-threatening impacts on transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth,” the statement read.

“Gender-affirming care is lifesaving medical treatment that is validated by every major medical association. Access to gender-affirming care has repeatedly been shown across scientific studies to improve overall well-being, positive health outcomes, and significantly reduce depression and suicidality in trans patients, including a dramatic reduction in suicidality in trans youth. The rise of anti-trans rhetoric and anti-trans policy is fundamentally not grounded in medical science, and is instead an expression of what the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention characterizes as a genocidal movement that seeks the eradication of transgender people from public life.

“Penn State Health’s decision to abandon trans patients in need represents a fundamental rejection of the health system’s own stated mission to improve the health and well-being of the people of Pennsylvania through compassionate, culturally responsive, and equitable care. We call on Penn State Health to stand with medical science, to stand up for patient well-being, and to continue offering gender-affirming medical treatment to all patients, including and especially trans youth, who need this lifesaving care.”