PHOTOS: Activists Protest and Leaders Speak at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles

Activists protested outside of the Children's Hospital of LA last Thursday against the hospital's decision to pause gender affirming care for new patients, with several local leaders giving speeches.

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All photos in this article by Mady Castigan. License available upon request (madycast.com@gmail.com). Some photos have faces blurred to respect the privacy of individuals.

Three protestors holding heart-shaped signs at the front of the protest.

Transgender activists in Los Angeles held a furious and energetic protest at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles last Thursday. The protest came after the California Attorney General Rob Bunta sent a letter to the hospital informing them that it is illegal to deny trans people medical care on the basis of their gender identity in the state of California. The hospital was given 10 days to respond to the letter dated February 5th, which means the hospital is expected to respond by February 15th.

Local activists have spread the word of another protest at CHLA this Thursday, despite a forecast of heavy rain on the fire-struck city.

A close up view of the protest from the crowd.

A protestor with a large Progress Pride flag stands beside another protestor raising a middle finger towards the hospital.

Several DSA members hold a Democratic Socialists of America Los Angeles banner along with several signs declaring solidarity with trans kids.

The protest was organized in part by the Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA-LA), though many attendees came of their own volition or from other groups promoting the protest. Many hospital staff who had been blindsided by CHLA’s decision also attended the protest. The hospital staff union CIR (the Committee of Interns & Residents) also endorsed the protest, and their logo was included on the flyer for the protest.

DSA-endorsed councilmember Ysabel Jurado was present at the protest and gave a fiery speech to the crowd in support of trans kids and demanding accountability for the hospital. When asked for a comment on what her and other city councilmembers planned to do to protect trans kids, Councilmember Jurado said that “we're trying to talk to CHLA to figure out what they can do.” Another DSA-endorsed councilmember, Hugo Soto Martinez, also attended the protest.

Councilmember Ysabel Jurado addressed the protest attendees with confidence and compassion. Though corporations may turn a blind eye when it comes to protecting children, she said being told “no” is only motivation to be even braver and stronger — our communities have outlasted everything thrown at us so far, and we won’t cower in fear now. After Ysabel’s speech, an activist took the mic and started a rousing chant: “When trans care is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!”

“I stand with you because as a daughter of undocumented immigrants, as a queer mom, a queer youth and a person of color, and also a council member… thinking about not being able to give your child [life-affirming] healthcare… being denied your child’s ability to be wholesome and fulfilled is really heartbreaking.”

A sign reads "YOUNG LUNGS AT PLAY! NO SMOKING" behind the protest and in front of the hospital

Several local news vans for both TV and print covered the protest. They took videos and photos of the event and interviewed some attendees.

The CEO of the LA LGBT Center, Joe Hollendoner, delivered a powerful speech to a crowd of protestors declaring the need to protect trans kids. Hollendoner spoke to the connection between the homelessness crisis, the Trump administration’s aggressive persecution of the trans cnity, and a deeper motive to suppress the working class.

“This is an attempt to divide your power as working people… The attacks on trans people are an attack on the entire working class.”

“Housing is a human right… Transition is a human right. And we will fight for it by any means necessary.”

“50% of the homeless trans people in the United States live in Los Angeles County — this is a place where people come from all over the country to escape where they grew up.”

A view of the protest from the side near the CHLA pedestrian bridge.

Several protestors on the street showing their support for trans rights. cars were constantly honking in support of the protest.

Many of the protestors had made signs for their protests.

A news van is parked near two men in suits. The man on the left wore a CHLA badge. One member of hospital staff told MadyCast News he resembles an executive at the hospital.

An empty City Sightseeing Los Angeles bus drives past the protest as cars around it honked and raised fists in support of the protestors.

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The protest at CHLA was reminiscent of ACT UP LA protests at other LA area hospitals during the AIDS crisis. You can read more on ACT UP LA and the suggestions that some activists have for queer people today in our in-depth article covering the movement.

The six photos and videos below the paywall are bonus content that didn’t make the main article. Paid subscribers enable us to pay above-market rates to queer journalists. We also regularly gift free paid subscriptions to highly engaged free subscribers who share our content. Additionally, 50% of all revenue through March will be donated to a fund to support LGBTQ+ victims of the recent LA fires.

—Edited by Socks Whitmore

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