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Vanderbilt University Medical Center opened a transgender care clinic in 2018, which led to conservatives calling for an investigation into the center years later, ultimately resulting in Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care.
Written by Emily Cochrane
In 2018, Vanderbilt University Medical Center quietly announced the opening of a new clinic specifically for transgender individuals. The announcement was brief, providing only basic information such as the clinic’s location, operating hours, and the names of two senior staff members. Despite the significance of the clinic, it did not receive much attention.
Four years later, Matt Walsh, a conservative political commentator at The Daily Wire in Nashville, gained attention for publishing a series of posts and videos about a clinic. In those posts, it was mentioned that a staff member at the clinic had referred to gender-affirming medication and surgery as profit-driven and had used harsh language to describe the treatments offered at the center.
The healthcare facility, which is not affiliated with Vanderbilt University, disagreed. In a statement, the center explained that its purpose is to help a group of people who are at high risk for mental and physical health problems and have not received adequate care from the American healthcare system.
The hospital stated that they do not treat children under the age of 18 without parental consent, and they respect the decision of any employee who refuses to provide care based on their personal or religious beliefs.
Members of the conservative party demanded an inquiry into the clinic, and prominent Republican figures addressed a rally arranged by Mr. Walsh in Nashville in October 2022 to protest against gender-affirming treatment for minors. Upon the convening of Tennessee legislators in January 2023, a proposed prohibition on gender-affirming care was labeled as Senate Bill 1. Despite opposition from transgender individuals and the majority of Democrats, the bill was approved.
Emily Cochrane is a journalist who works for The Times and focuses on reporting news from the American South. She is located in Nashville.
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