Editor’s note: This article contains discussion of transphobia. Resources for anyone impacted by this topic are listed at the bottom of this page.

On Feb. 9, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey launched an investigation into the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital after an opinion piece written by former case worker Jamie Reed criticizing the center appeared in “The Free Press,” a right-wing publication which has published other transphobic and sensationalized content. 

So far, the response by Washington University administration to the investigation has failed to consistently affirm the right to healthcare for patients at the center. Statements released by the University have been inconsistent and have legitimized the attacks on its own healthcare services. The University must rectify this by voicing more consistent support for the Center as well as for its transgender students during this time of crisis.

In her article, Jamie Reed calls for a “moratorium” on gender-affirming treatment for transgender youth, meaning that transgender minors would be denied access to life-saving puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy, and other medical services. 

While positioning herself as a “whistleblower,” most of the criticisms Reed has of the Transgender Center are not concerned with policy or conduct of staff at the institution. Rather, the article criticizes the Center for doing precisely what it is supposed to do: providing transgender minors with medical care. 

Reed also consistently misgenders the Center’s patients in the piece.

The investigation prompted by Reed’s article coincides with a national rise in anti-transgender legislation. Since the beginning of 2023, over 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced nationwide, nearly as many as were introduced in the entirety of the previous year. Bills restricting or banning access to healthcare for transgender minors have already been passed in six states, with South Dakota joining their ranks just this past week.

The threat posed by this investigation is enormous. If Missouri restricts access to transgender healthcare for minors in the state — as is the clearly stated goal of both Reed and the Republican politicians behind the ongoing investigation — then the effects on transgender youth across the state will be devastating. New patients would be denied access to care, and transgender minors who are already out and receiving care would be forced to medically detransition.

Washington University is situated at the center of this crisis. The Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital is the only clinic in the entire state offering transition services to transgender children and teenagers. Because of this, it is critical that University administration expresses consistent, firm support for the medical services it provides, recognizing that the current investigation into its own clinic is a dangerous, politicized attack on transgender youth. 

Our administration has failed to do this. In its original statement responding to Reed’s highly transphobic opinion article, rather than condemning Reed’s transphobic positions and language, University administration expressed that it was “alarmed” by her statements and pledged to investigate the situation internally. 

Given that Reed’s primary claim is that transgender healthcare should be suspended for pediatric patients, it should be of great concern that the initial university response was at best neutral and at worst sympathetic to her claims.

Senator Josh Hawley, one of the Republican politicians spearheading the investigation, has stated that Chancellor Andrew Martin said he was personally “appalled” after reading Reed’s article. He also shared that Martin has agreed to comply fully with the investigation. 

A second statement released jointly by Chancellor Martin and BJC President Richard J. Liekweg this week addresses some of these ambiguities, and it too fails to acknowledge the threat posed by this politicized investigation. In the statement, Liekweg and Martin clearly reject the possibility of placing a moratorium on the clinic’s services, as well as advocate for the “lifesaving, evidence-based care” offered by the Center. However, the statement gladly submits to Missouri Republicans’ inquiries, promising to “continue to cooperate” with Bailey’s office and establish “additional oversight” of the Center while offering no resistance or criticism of the investigation. This response has legitimized what is ultimately a fraudulent, transphobic, and politically motivated investigation into the University’s own clinic. 

The University must be prepared to call out Reed’s transphobia for what it is: it is a mistake for the University to respond in such a passive way to these claims. While the second statement is certainly an improvement on the first because of its voiced support for the Center’s services, this was not a high bar to surpass. The Editorial Board calls on the University to express public and unwavering support for this vital care going forward.

Further, it is of utmost importance that the University communicates not only its support for the Center but also for its transgender student population during this time. Many Washington University students have either previously been patients at the pediatric clinic or are currently patients at the affiliated clinic for adult care.

We call upon the University to release a formal statement to students, faculty, staff, and affiliated medical offices that contextualizes the investigation, clearly condemning the ongoing assault on transgender rights by Missouri politicians and expressing unequivocal support for its health services. 

As this situation escalates, transgender students, patients, and the community at large do not feel supported by the Washington University administration. It is critical that the University takes a firm, actionable stance in support of its affected patients and students.

Staff editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of our editorial board members. The editorial board operates independently of our newsroom and includes members of the senior staff. 

Jamila Dawkins, Managing Forum Editor

Reilly Brady, Managing Forum Editor

Alice Gottesman, Senior Forum Editor

Camden Maggard, Social Media Editor

Jasmine Stone, Junior Forum Editor

Holden Hindes, Managing Photo Editor

Ved Patel, Chief of Copy

Jared Adelman, Senior Multimedia Editor

Below are resources to support members of the trans community. 

IMMEDIATE SUPPORT

The Trans Lifeline works to connect trans people with emotional and financial support, along with other community resources. Trans counselors can be reached 24/7 at 1-877-565-8860.

The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for the LGBTQIA+ community, can be reached 24/7 by calling 1-866-488-7386 or texting START to 678-678.

LOCAL SUPPORT

The St. Louis Queer+ Support Helpline offers resources and support from local, LGBTQIA-affirming peer counselors, and can be reached Friday – Monday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. CT at 314-380-7774.

The Metro Trans Umbrella Group facilitates St. Louis-based support groups for trans-masculine, trans-feminine, non-binary and genderqueer individuals, as well as LGBTQIA+ people of color. Contact information for each group can be found online.

Pinwheels is a support group with meetings in St. Louis for trans and gender non-conforming children, teens, and their families. 

Growing American Youth is a social support organization for LGBTQ+ youth who live near St. Louis and are 21 and under and can be contacted via Instagram or Facebook.

OTHER RESOURCES

The National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network provides a variety of identity-affirming resources, including a directory of queer and trans therapists of color. 

Trans researcher and writer Erin Reed has created an online map of every informed consent hormone clinic in the United States. 

The Gender Affirming Letter Access Project aims to increase access to free letters for gender-affirming medical care by providing a directory of trans, nonbinary, and allied mental health and medical clinicians.