Virginia hospitals keep legal trans youth care closed and families in the dark

As hospitals nationwide navigate federal investigations into their gender-affirming care programs, three major hospitals in Virginia are silent on whether they plan to reopen their programs to minors.Under President Donald Trump’s second term, Children’s Hospital of the Kings and Daughters, Children’s Hospital of Richmond and University of Virginia Health Children’s Hospital have each closed their gender-affirming care programs to minors. That care remains legal in the state. The hospitals have not said publicly whether the programs will reopen to youth, and some Virginia families and advocates say they have been left in the dark.The Advocate reached out to media representatives for the three hospitals for comment. A spokesperson for Children’s Hospital of the Kings and Daughters told The Advocate over email that the hospital does not provide hormone therapy or puberty blockers to minors seeking gender-affirming care.Related: Major Virginia medical center stops gender-affirming care for minors after Trump’s executive order“We continue to provide allowable mental health services and consultation to children within our community affected by these federal decisions. CHKD has never provided surgical treatment for gender-affirming care,” the spokesperson wrote.Meanwhile, representatives for Children’s Hospital of Richmond and UVA Health Children’s Hospital pointed The Advocate to earlier, broader hospital communications announcing the closure of services.“While we must end Gender-Affirming Care services for youth under age 19, our doors remain open to all patients and their families for all other health care needs,” read a July 2025 statement from Children’s Hospital of Richmond. “UVA Health is accepting new patients for gender-affirming care who are adults the age of nineteen and above. UVA Health may refer younger patients to providers outside of UVA Health to help them access the care they need,” a webpage on the UVA Health website reads.