When Politics Overrides Care: The Impact of Utah’s Legislation on Trans Youth Healthcare

Joselyn Romero, Executive Director of Arches Healing and Growth, was featured in a press story discussing the impact of Utah’s policies on transgender youth and access to gender-affirming care. Read the excerpt in Assigned Media, click here for the full story.

Last month, the University of Utah healthcare system announced it will stop providing hormone therapy to all patients under 18 beginning April 15, leaving more than 100 transgender youth without ongoing care. The decision comes amid an escalating wave of anti-trans legislation in Utah, including bills that seek to expand restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare.

As a therapist at Arches Healing and Growth who works closely with transgender youth and their families, Joselyn Romero spoke about the emotional toll these policies are having on young people across the state and the broader Intermountain West. For many families, the University of Utah clinic had served as one of the few accessible sources of specialized care in the region.

Romero emphasized that the repeated introduction of restrictive legislation has created a climate of ongoing fear and uncertainty for transgender youth and their families. They described the current moment not only as a policy shift, but as a profound loss of stability and trust for many families who have relied on consistent medical and mental health support.

Romero encourages families and youth to prioritize connection and mental health during this time, reminding them that the harm they are feeling is real and that community support remains critical as access to care becomes increasingly uncertain.