New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed an executive order prohibiting the use of public resources or funds "to detain any individual who is providing or receiving gender-affirming health care services in New York City."
Also, Executive Order 32 "denies the use of resources by the City of New York to cooperate with any prosecution or investigation by another state" of individuals moving to New York to provide or receive gender reassignment treatment:
All people deserve the right to gender-affirming care and protection against prosecution for being who they are.
The text declares the city as "the birthplace of the LGBTQ+ rights movement" and advocates that "the City has long taken administrative actions and advocated for and enacted legislation to create a welcoming and supportive environment for the LGBTQ+ community."
Executive Order 32 reaffirms New York City’s historic place as a national leader and supporter for all seeking the health care and medical attention needed, especially for transgender and nonbinary people.
Gender-affirming or gender reassignment care includes a wide range of medical treatments or procedures such as puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy and surgeries.
Adams attacks states that ban gender reassignment for minors
In a statement, the mayor attacked all states that have legislated to ban gender reassignment treatments, without mentioning that in almost all of these cases the ban applies to minors:
As states across the nation continue their onslaught of attacks on our LGBTQ+ neighbors, New York City is doing what we have always done — standing up for justice and against discrimination.
The bans that have been applied in 19 states in the country only apply to minors. The leaders of the states where sex changes for minors are prevented defend that citizens should wait until they reach adulthood to make these decisions.
Gender-affirming medical care is "essential" to health
Despite the risks involved in these procedures, for Adams, gender affirming medical care is "gender-affirming care is essential to the health and wellness of many transgender and non-binary people," regardless of whether they are of a reasonable age to make these decisions:
To our #LGBTQ+ community across the nation feeling hurt, isolated, or threatened, we have a clear message for you: New York City has and will always be a welcoming home for you.
I just signed Executive Order 32 to protect access to gender-affirming health care in New York City.
To our #LGBTQ+ community across the nation feeling hurt, isolated, or threatened, we have a clear message for you:
New York City has and will always be a welcoming home for… pic.twitter.com/yxQlKa5apz
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) June 12, 2023
