This Valentine's Day brought an abundance of Queer joy to Seattle. Judge Lauren King issued a temporary restraining order against President Trump's January executive order limiting funding to facilities that provide gender-affirming surgeries, and hundreds turned out for a protest/celebration outside of Seattle Children's Hospital, which halted such surgeries as a result of the order.
People of all ages showed up to the dance party outside of the hospital, which included the sharing of LGBTQ+ resources, snacks and beverages, and the making of valentine cards. Protestors posted large signs by the bus stop reading "You are loved," as repeated car honks were heard over speakers blasting Chappell Roan's "Red Wine Supernova."
"I hope that this crowd — and all of the energy and love that we're bringing today — shows Seattle Children's that Trans kids are more than a lawsuit," Thomas Agostini, a concerned physician, told the SGN. "Trans kids are more than trying to dissuade or avoid litigation... They are human beings that deserve to be loved and deserve lifesaving medical care.
Agostini said he hopes that the actions and efforts by community organizers show Transgender and gender-diverse youth in Washington and across the nation that there are healthcare workers and others who support them.
"My hope is that healthcare organizations around the state of Washington resume full-spectrum gender-affirming care based off of the decision of the judge earlier this morning," he added.
Queers win in court
On February 7, the attorneys general of Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota filed a federal lawsuit, State of Washington et al. v. Trump et al., in response to Trump's January 28 executive order. The plaintiffs argued that the order violates the Fifth and Tenth Amendments, and threatens criminal prosecution against healthcare providers.
Judge Lauren King of the US District Court's Western District of Washington authorized a 14-day temporary restraining order.
The Department of Justice counsel often went silent, having difficulty answering Judge King's questions, such as if the executive order targets similar treatments for cisgender people.
Prior to the multistate lawsuit, Seattle Children's halted all gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19 years of age for the month of February.
On February 12, a Seattle Children's spokesperson told the SGN that it is supporting Washington Attorney General Nick Brown's temporary restraining order, and that given the uncertainty regarding the order, the hospital was seeking clarity to safeguard the best interests of patients, families, and the workforce. The hospital did not specifically state that it would resume gender-affirming surgeries.
Stories from protestors
Doug Urner, a repeat Seattle Children's protestor, posted a sign by the bus stop that read, "One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws." He told the SGN that there were several reasons he's been turning out, but to summarize, it was "a lot of bullshit."
"I have a Trans daughter," Urner said. "I taught high school, so I had a lot of Trans students, and it's just bullshit. My daughter was able to get out of the country." Urner's daughter moved to Scotland because of the attack on Trans rights in the US.
He also noted that he was an advisor for his school's Queer-Straight Alliance and had many students come in who were lacking support.
At one point, a resident physician took to the microphone to say that they moved to Seattle to train in an environment that supports a diverse group of patients with evidence-based practices.
"There may be parents here today who uprooted their family to provide a child with an affirming environment," the physician said. "Gender-affirming care is healthcare, plain and simple... There is no debate in science. This is life-saving care for our youth. It's not the job of healthcare workers to ration care in fear of litigation and retaliation."
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