Prom
In 2018, Vanderbilt University Medical Center opened a clinic for transgender care. However, conservatives later demanded an investigation into the clinic, leading to Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care.
Written by Emily Cochrane
In 2018, Vanderbilt University Medical Center introduced a new clinic specifically for transgender individuals, but it didn’t receive much publicity. The announcement was a brief four-paragraph news release that simply provided information on the clinic’s location, operating hours, and introduced two senior staff members.
Four years later, the clinic gained attention when Matt Walsh, a conservative political commentator from The Daily Wire in Nashville, shared posts and videos criticizing the clinic. In his content, he claimed that a staff member at the clinic had referred to gender-affirming medication and surgery as profit-driven practices, using harsh language to describe the center’s treatments.
The medical center, which is not affiliated with Vanderbilt University, disagreed with the criticism. They explained in a statement that their clinic is focused on providing healthcare to a group of people who are at a higher risk for mental and physical health problems and have not received adequate care from the American healthcare system.
The medical center stated that they do not treat children under 18 without parental consent, and they will not require any employees to provide care that goes against their personal or religious beliefs.
The conservatives demanded an inquiry into the clinic, and Republican officials gave speeches at a rally organized by Mr. Walsh in Nashville in October 2022 to protest gender-affirming treatment for minors. In January 2023, Tennessee lawmakers came together and introduced Senate Bill 1, which aimed to ban gender-affirming care. Despite opposition from transgender individuals and the majority of Democrats, the bill was successfully passed.
Emily Cochrane is a journalist who works for The Times and focuses on reporting news from the American South region. She is situated in Nashville for her reporting. For additional information about
Prom
Navigation of Site Index
Navigation of Site Information