Transgender and Gender Diverse Elected Officials Delegation: Call For UW Health and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin To resume gender affirming care for minors

[MADISON, WI, May 19, 2026] As Transgender and Gender Diverse legislators from across the state of Wisconsin, we understand the importance of working with community partners. We also rely on our partners to make decisions that care for our constituents and community members, especially when it comes to the need for evidence-based medical care. 

For over a decade there has been a concerted effort to disenfranchise and remove the basic rights of transgender and gender diverse people across this country. Our state has been no exception from the vilification of our beloved community members. In December, the Federal Government took action that threatened funding for Hospitals providing Gender Affirming Care to minors and UW Health and Children’s Hospital of  Wisconsin began to reassess the care that they provide. 

As elected officials, we recognize that healthcare systems operate under immense political and financial pressure. Leadership is tested precisely in moments like these. When fundamental healthcare access for a vulnerable community is threatened, institutions must decide whether they will defend evidence-based care and the patients who depend on it, or retreat at the first sight of political intimidation.

We are deeply disappointed by UW Health’s and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin’s decision to pause this care. While we understand the uncertainty created by shifting federal actions, the speed with which access to care was withdrawn has caused fear, disruption, and a profound loss of trust among patients and families who depend on UW Health and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

This moment raises an important question: if healthcare institutions retreat from established standards of care at the first sign of political pressure, where is the line? Communities deserve confidence that medically necessary treatment will not become negotiable whenever it becomes politically controversial.

Transgender and gender diverse people are not political talking points. They are our constituents, neighbors, students, coworkers, friends, and family members. Their healthcare, dignity, and safety deserve protection not only when it is easy, but especially when it is difficult.

We call on UW Health and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin to reverse this decision to the fullest extent legally possible, reaffirm its commitment to evidence-based care, and rebuild trust with the transgender and gender diverse community. We also call on healthcare providers, elected officials, and community leaders across Wisconsin to stand clearly and publicly in defense of equitable access to medically necessary care.

Wisconsin Trans and Gender Diverse Elected Officials:

Supervisor Rachel Maes – Brown County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Aria Trucios  – Dane County Board of Supervisors

Alder Vered Meltzer – Appleton Common Council

Alder Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford – Madison Common Council

Alder Camden Hargrove – Menomonie Common Council
Board Member Nick Ross – Appleton School Board 

Christopher Peguero – Verona Area School District Board Member

Supporting Wisconsin Elected Officials:

Rep. Mark Pocan – United States House of Representative

Sen. Tim Carpenter – Wisconsin State Senate, LGBTQ+ Caucus

Sen. Dora Drake – Wisconsin State Senate

Sen. Sarah Keyeski – Wisconsin State Senate

Sen. Chris Larson – Wisconsin State Senate

Sen. Melissa Ratcliff – Wisconsin State Senate, TPANAC

Sen. Kelda Roys – Wisconsin State Senate, LGBTQ+ Caucus

Sen. Mark Spreitzer – Wisconsin State Senate, LGBTQ+ Caucus Chair

Sen. Kristin Dassler-Alfehim – Wisconsin State Senate, LGBTQ+ Caucus

Rep. Margaret Arney – Wisconsin State Assembly

Rep. Mike Bare – Wisconsin State Assembly

Rep. Ryan Clancy – Wisconsin State Assembly, TPANAC

Rep. Angelina Cruz – Wisconsin State Assembly

Rep. Francesca Hong – Wisconsin State Assembly

Rep. Andrew Hysell – Wisconsin State Assembly

Rep. Alex Joers – Wisconsin State Assembly 

Rep. Tara Johnson – Wisconsin State Assembly

Rep. Karen Kirsch – Wisconsin State Assembly

Rep. Darrin B. Madison Jr – Wisconsin State Assembly

Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde – Wisconsin State Assembly

Rep. Christian Phelps – Wisconsin State Assembly, LGBTQ+ Caucus Vice Chair

Rep. Angela Stroud – Wisconsin State Assembly, LGBTQ+ Caucus

Rep. Lee Snodgrass – Wisconsin State Assembly, LGBTQ+ Caucus

Rep. Ryan Spaude – Wisconsin State Assembly, LGBTQ+ Caucus

Rep. Lisa Subeck – Wisconsin State Assembly

Rep. Angelito Tenorio – Wisconsin State Assembly 

Rep. Randy Udell – Wisconsin State Assembly, LGBTQ+ Caucus

Rep. Robyn Vining- Wisconsin State Assembly

Former Rep. David Carenbach – Wisconsin State Assembly

Melissa Agard – Dane County Executive

Mayor Dianne Duggan – City of Evansville

Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta – City of Fitchburg

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway – City of Madison

Mayor Steve Stocker – City of Sun Prairie 

Mayor Luke Diaz – City of Verona

Supervisor Dan Blazewicz – Dane County Board of Supervisors 

Supervisor Yogesh Chawla – Dane County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Donald D. Dantzler Jr. – County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Chuck Erickson – Dane County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Chad Kemp – Dane County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Kerry Marren – Dane County Supervisors

Supervisor Spencer Berndt – Dunn County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Andrew Hagen – Dunn County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Sheila Stori – Dunn County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Dana Johnson – Outagamie County Board of Supervisors

Former Supervisor Dana Pellebon – Dane County Board of Supervisors 

Alderperson Emily Berge – Eau Claire Common Council President

Alderperson Donald D. Dantzler Jr. – City of Fitchburg Common Council

Alder Gabriella Gerhardt – City of Fitchburg Common Council President

Alder Bill Jetzer – City of Fitchburg Common Council

Alder Joe Maldonado – City of Fitchburg Common Council

Alder Joey Prestley – Green Bay Common Council

Alder Alyssa Proffitt – Green Bay Common Council President

Alder Yannette Figueroa Cole – Madison Common Council

Alder Carmella Glenn – Madison Common Council Vice President

Alder John Guequierre – Madison Common Council

Alder Sabrina Madison – Madison Common Council President

Alder Julia Matthews -Madison Common Council

Alder Davy Mayer – Madison Common Council

Alder Sean O’Brien – Madison Common Council 

Alder Will Ochowicz – Madison Common Council

Alder Mike Verveer – Madison Common Council

Alder Regina Vidaver – Madison Common Council

Alder Ellen Zhang – Madison Common Council

Alder Abigail Pickard – Menomonie Common Council

Alder Cody Gentz – Menomonie Common Council President

Alder Gretchen Yonko – Menomonie Common Council

Alder Ryland Erdman – Menomonie Common Council

Alderperson JoCasta Zamarripa – Milwaukee Common Council

Alder Mara Helmke – Verona Common Council President

Former Alder MGR Govindarajan – Madison Common Council Vice President

Former Alder Juliana Bennett – Madison Common Council

Former Alder Jael Curry – Madison Common Council

Megan Miller School District of Beloit Board of Education Board Clerk

Jesus M. Rivera – Cambridge School District Vice President

Pa Thao – Eau Claire School District School Board Member

Carl Bryan, EdD – Kenosha Unified School Board Member

Blair Mosner Feltham – Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education, Vice President

Nicki Vander Meulen – Madison Metropolitan School District Board Member

Ali Muldrow – Madison Metropolitan School District Board Member

Rachel Henderson – Menomonie Area School District Board Member

Emily Hines-School District of the Menomonie Area School Board Treasurer

Amy Riddle-Swanson Menomonie Area School Board Member

Abraham D. Smith – Menomonie Area School District Board Vice President

Angela Wolf Menomonie Area School District Board Member

Korbey White- Verona Area School District Board of Education Member

Martha Siravo – Madison Metropolitan School Board Member 

Pheng Thao – Appleton Area School District School Board

Supporting Organizations:

PFLAG National

PFLAG Madison

Fair Wisconsin

GSAFE

Diverse & Resilient

Power Up Eau Claire

NBJC 

RCC Sexual Violence Resource Center

Just Dane

Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools

Wisconsin Public Education Network

Sondercove Foundation

Art MVF & Design LLC

Transgender Resistance Action Committee (TRAC)

AFSCME Local 1218

Indivisible Madison East