Standing with Trans Youth: Advocacy in Action

At the Jim Toy Community Center, our mission has always been to serve as a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ+ people across Washtenaw County and beyond. This year, that mission has taken on even greater urgency as we confront devastating decisions from major healthcare providers.

Recently, both Michigan Medicine and Corewell Health announced that they will end gender-affirming care for people under 19. These decisions are heartbreaking and dangerous. Gender-affirming care is evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving for transgender youth. Taking it away not only strips families of their ability to make the best medical decisions for their children, but also increases the risks of depression, anxiety, and suicide among already vulnerable young people.

The Jim Toy Community Center has been present and vocal in this fight. Our board member, Kami Michels, shared her family’s story at a rally in defense of gender-affirming care, reminding the crowd that this issue is not abstract policy—it’s about real kids, real families, and real lives.

But our advocacy doesn’t stop there. We are working across the state with healthcare providers, advocacy groups, and community organizations to:

• Organize resources for families impacted by these changes

• Amplify our collective voices to push back against harmful policies

• Collaborate on long-term solutions that ensure trans youth continue to receive the care and support they need

This moment requires all of us—community members, allies, and leaders—to come together and protect trans lives. The Jim Toy Community Center will not stand by quietly while care is stripped away. We remain steadfast in our commitment to advocacy, education, and action.

Trans youth deserve love. They deserve safety. They deserve care. And together, we will fight to make sure they have all three.