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Tuesday

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is shown at his confirmation hearing wearing a blue jacket and red tie.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has 30 days to present a plan on how to implement President Trump's executive order on transgender people in the military. Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military

The executive order speaks of transgender identity in sweeping and dismissive terms and sets the stage for a policy that is more restrictive and punitive than the ban from Trump's first term.

Friday

A crowd of people are photographed from above in the Oklahoma state capitol. Some of them hold handmade signs supporting trans rights. A sign in the middle reads, "You can't erase us."

Trans-rights activists protest outside the House chamber at the Oklahoma state capitol before the State of the State address, Feb. 6, 2023, in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma and 25 other states have anti-trans laws on the books. Sue Ogrocki/AP hide caption

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Sue Ogrocki/AP

Shots - Health News

Trans health care under Trump may follow the abortion playbook and its Hyde amendment

Republicans spent $222 million on anti-trans and LGBTQ advertising in the campaign. Various policy initiatives are on the incoming administration's to-do list.

Trans health care under Trump may follow the abortion playbook and its Hyde amendment

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Friday

Veronica, 17, is a teen with long, straight red hair, wearing a camisole top, jeans and necklaces. She's sitting cross-legged on a medical exam table, smiling.

Veronica, 17, drove with her mother nearly four hours from her home in Iowa to visit a doctor in Minneapolis in September. Iowa banned gender-affirming care for youth in March 2023.
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Selena Simmons-Duffin/NPR

Shots - Health News

Her state bans gender-affirming care for teenagers. So she travels 450 miles for it

An estimated 110,000 trans teenagers live in states that ban gender-affirming care for minors. Some travel huge distances every few months to keep getting their treatment out-of-state.

Trans Youth Road Trip

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Wednesday

Area chart showing the number of states with laws that limit youth access to gender-affirming care. The number increases dramatically in 2023 — from three states to 22 states — and ends with 25 states in June of 2024.
Hilary Fung/NPR

Shots - Health News

In just a few years, half of all states passed bans on trans health care for kids

The Supreme Court will hear a case on gender-affirming care in the next term after a flurry of legislation. Lower courts have come to conflicting conclusions when these bans were challenged.

In just a few years, half of all states passed bans on trans health care for kids

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Friday

Thursday

All The Only Ones: No More (Gender) Drama
Sally Chen for NPR

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All The Only Ones: No More (Gender) Drama

In the final episode of the series, we meet Christine, an 18 year old from New Mexico, shortly after starting hormone replacement therapy, as she navigates her freshman year of college. We also meet Dr. Charles Ihlenfeld, who was a physician at the John Hopkins Gender Clinic, working with many young people as they transitioned in the 1970s. We spend time with one of his patients, Joanna, whose path to transition meant hiding her past, and how in 2023, being visible can be empowering, but also dangerous.

All The Only Ones: No More (Gender) Drama

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Monday

The Pervasiveness Of Transgender Health Care Discrimination
Mint Images/Getty Images

Short Wave

The Pervasiveness Of Transgender Health Care Discrimination

A new report from the Center for American Progress finds that nearly half of transgender people have experienced mistreatment at the hands of a medical provider. NBC OUT reporter Jo Yurcaba explains the long-term impacts of this discrimination, plus a few potential solutions.

The Pervasiveness Of Transgender Health Care Discrimination

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Wednesday

How To Start Hormone Replacement Therapy
Claudio Reyes/AFP via Getty Images

Short Wave

How To Start Hormone Replacement Therapy

Medical transition-related treatments like hormone replacement therapy are associated with overwhelmingly positive outcomes in terms of both physical and mental health for transgender people. But, it can be hard to know exactly how to get started. Reporter James Factora explains where to start, common misconceptions about HRT, and the importance of finding community through the process.

How To Start Hormone Replacement Therapy

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Wednesday

Sheriff's Deputy Sues Her County To Get Health Coverage For Transgender-Related Care

Sgt. Anna Lange filed a lawsuit against the county where she works in Georgia for refusing to allow her health insurance plan to cover gender-affirmation surgery. Audra Melton for NPR hide caption

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Audra Melton for NPR

Shots - Health News

Sheriff's Deputy Sues Her County To Get Health Coverage For Transgender-Related Care

KFF Health News

Attorneys say a win in the case filed in central Georgia on Wednesday could ultimately set a precedent that influences the law in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

Friday

Trump Administration Proposes Rule To Reverse Protections For Transgender Patients

Roger Severino, director of the Office for Civil Rights, announced Friday a new proposed rule rolling back anti-discrimination protections for transgender patients. Those protections had been written in 2016 but enjoined in court. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Shots - Health News

Trump Administration Proposes Rule To Reverse Protections For Transgender Patients

A federal agency issued a proposed rule Friday that rolls back Obama-era protections for transgender patients. Advocates for transgender people say the rule leaves them vulnerable to discrimination.

Tuesday

Fresh Challenges To State Exclusions On Transgender Health Coverage

Anna Lange, who works for the sheriff's office in Houston County, Ga., discovered that her health insurance plan excludes transgender services. She is seeking to challenge that policy. Audra Melton for NPR hide caption

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Audra Melton for NPR

Shots - Health News

Fresh Challenges To State Exclusions On Transgender Health Coverage

Although federal law prohibits health insurance plans from discriminating against transgender individuals, a Georgia county specifically excludes trans-related health care from coverage.

Sunday

Medical Students Push For More LGBT Health Training To Address Disparities

Sarah Spiegel, a third-year student at New York Medical College, pushed for more education on LGBT health issues for students. Mengwen Cao for NPR hide caption

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Mengwen Cao for NPR

Shots - Health News

Medical Students Push For More LGBT Health Training To Address Disparities

One in 5 LGBT adults has avoided medical care for fear of discrimination, according to a recent survey, and 80 percent of physicians surveyed say they feel "not competent" to treat LGBT patients.

Wednesday

In A Reversal, Wisconsin To Cover State Workers Seeking Transgender Treatment

Wren Vetens fought to get her gender confirmation surgery covered after the Group Insurance Board's initial decision left her without insurance coverage. Lauren Justice for KHN hide caption

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Lauren Justice for KHN

Shots - Health News

In A Reversal, Wisconsin To Cover State Workers Seeking Transgender Treatment

KFF Health News

A Wisconsin insurance board has reversed a decision made last year to bar coverage of transgender hormone therapy and surgery for public workers.