Montgomery County summit responds to transgender health care challenges
Maryland earns high marks overall from the Movement Advancement Project for its LGBTQ policy protections, including becoming a “shield” state for transgender health care, but a Montgomery County survey that found trans youth face difficulties in accessing care prompted Council Vice President Kate Stewart and a county health nonprofit to convene a virtual roundtable on Saturday. “My son transitioned when he was in high school and our local pharmacy regularly did not have the correct size syringes,” Stewart told the Washington Blade during a telephone interview. “I had to take off from work and drive from Takoma Park to Chase Brexton in Howard County.
That’s not a quick drive, and not accessible by public transportation.” She said Trans Maryland’s work helped make syringes more available now, but more needs to be done to increase access to equitable care at the local level.
Maryland is one of 15 states, along with D.C., to which the Movement Advancement Project gave a high overall score for its LGBTQ policies.
In terms of trans health care equity, 22 states have banned medically advised care for transitioning youth as of 2023, with Missouri banning similar care for adults.
