The federal government–from the Justice Department to the FDA–is spending a lot of money on banning gender affirming care for trans youth. And though there is no state mandated ban, providers have stopped offering gender affirming care in Wisconsin. At the same time, Republican leaders like Pete Hegeseth are pro-hormone therapy when it comes to giving cisgender people hormones. On today’s show, host Dana Pellebon takes on the state of hormone therapy with journalist Orion Rummler and two local advocates, Skye-Gia and Venus of OutReach.

In Rummler’s latest article for The 19th, they write that the Trump administration is aligned with science when it comes to giving estrogen to cisgender women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. But the administration also mischaracterizes why this is important, saying that estrogen makes women docile and less likely to get divorced. Then there’s Pete Hegeseth who is obsessed with testing cisgender men in the military for low testosterone. That’s on top of broad cuts to Medicaid that disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ folks and new regulations that limit how states are able to provide HIV services.

Venus says that they’ve noticed more people stressed out by the shrinking options for trans healthcare, but people are organizing and planning. Community care shouldn’t have to go underground, and Venus wants to see a new system, not simply a reformed one shaped by electoral politics.

Skye-Gia is frustrated by the failure of many Democrats to speak up about trans rights. It was only three years ago that Governor Evers vetoed a bill that would have banned gender affirming care for people under 18. But campaign promises won’t change a broken system.

Skye-Gia Garcia is a community organizer who currently holds a position at OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center working with unhoused youth.

Orion Rummler covers LGBTQ+ health for The 19th, a nonprofit newsroom. They have covered this beat from Capitol Hill, the White House, inside the Supreme Court, and in states across the country.

Venus is a Black 24-year-old transexual artist, dancer, and visionary, and is also a rapid rehousing navigator for EverStrong, helping young adults obtain and maintain stable housing.

Featured image of a hypodermic needle.

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