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In 2018, Vanderbilt University Medical Center opened a clinic for transgender care. After some time, conservatives demanded an inquiry into the clinic.
Written by Emily Cochrane
In 2018, Vanderbilt University Medical Center introduced a new transgender clinic, but the announcement did not generate much interest. The news release only provided basic information such as the clinic’s location, operating hours, and the names of two senior staff members.
Four years after it was first brought up, Matt Walsh, a conservative political commentator at The Daily Wire in Nashville, gained attention for publishing a series of posts and videos discussing a clinic. The posts claimed that a staff member at the clinic had described gender-affirming medication and surgery as ways to make money, and used harsh language to criticize the treatments provided at the center.
The medical center, which is not affiliated with Vanderbilt University, responded by stating that their clinic’s goal is to provide care for a population at high risk for mental and physical health problems, who have historically not received adequate support from the American healthcare system.
The hospital stated that they do not treat children under 18 without parental consent, and they respect employees’ rights to refuse care based on personal or religious beliefs.
Members of the conservative political party demanded a thorough examination of the clinic, and prominent figures from the Republican party delivered speeches at a rally arranged by Mr. Walsh in Nashville in October 2022, expressing their disapproval of gender-affirming treatments for children. During the legislative session in January 2023, Tennessee lawmakers identified a bill to prohibit gender-affirming care as Senate Bill 1. Despite opposition from transgender individuals and the majority of Democrats, the bill was successfully passed.
Emily Cochrane is a journalist for The Times who focuses on reporting in the southern United States and is located in Nashville. To learn more about Emily Cochrane, visit her
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