Across the United States, a growing number of parents are taking extraordinary steps to defend medical care for transgender youth—even if it means risking arrest. Their actions come as federal policies and political battles increasingly reshape access to gender-affirming healthcare nationwide.

According to a report by The 19th some parents and advocates have begun participating in acts of civil disobedience to protest proposed restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors. One recent demonstration in Washington, D.C., saw dozens of protesters block the entrance to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), demanding the government stop efforts they say could effectively ban such care.

Among those arrested was Larissa Godfrey-Smith, a Washington-based therapist who specializes in LGBTQ+ mental health. She spent about 12 hours in a crowded jail cell following the protest. While the conditions were uncomfortable, she said the hardest part was realizing she would miss her evening routine with her young child.

Godfrey-Smith was one of more than 50 people who joined the demonstration, and roughly half of them were arrested during the protest. The event was organized by the Gender Liberation Movement, an advocacy group focused on bodily autonomy and transgender rights.

For many participants, the issue is deeply personal.

Parents of transgender children say they feel increasingly alarmed by proposed federal policies that could limit or eliminate gender-affirming treatments for minors. These treatments can include counseling, puberty blockers or hormone therapy, depending on the patient’s age and medical guidance.

Under current proposals, hospitals that provide such care to minors could lose federal funding through Medicaid or Medicare programs. Because many healthcare systems depend heavily on those funds, critics say the policy could effectively pressure hospitals to stop offering treatment—even in states where it remains legal.

Several hospitals have already begun suspending programs for transgender youth amid the uncertainty. One example cited in The 19th report involved a New York hospital that closed its youth gender clinic after citing concerns about the regulatory environment. The decision left families scrambling to find new providers for ongoing care.

For parents like Christen Clifford, whose children receive gender-affirming treatment, the closures are frightening. She says the care has had a positive impact on her children’s health and well-being, helping them feel more comfortable and confident in their daily lives.

“I really believe it saved my children’s lives,” she told the publication.

Meanwhile, legal battles are unfolding across the country. A coalition of 21 states and Washington, D.C., has filed a lawsuit challenging federal efforts to restrict gender-affirming care through Medicaid funding rules. A temporary pause currently prevents federal officials from taking enforcement actions while the case moves forward.

Despite the uncertainty, families and advocates say they feel compelled to speak out.

Some parents say they never imagined they would risk arrest over healthcare policy. But many now believe that public protest is one of the few ways to draw attention to what they view as a growing crisis for transgender youth and their families.

For these parents, the fight is not abstract politics—it is about their children’s future. And many say they are prepared to keep showing up, even if it means facing legal consequences, in hopes of protecting access to care they believe is essential.