WashU Transgender Center allegedly closing; University neither confirms nor denies claim

| News Editor

(Lydia Nicholson | Student Life)

In an op-ed published on July 17 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jamie Reed — whistleblower and former case manager at the Washington University Transgender Center (WUTC) of St. Louis Children’s Hospital — wrote that the WUTC “quietly announced” last week that they will be “permanently closed.” However, sources from other news outlets deny the closure allegations.

In a statement to Student Life, University spokesperson Julie Flory neither confirmed nor denied Reed’s claims.

“We have continued to support our transgender patients appropriately and in accordance with the law,” Flory said. “We have no plans to change that approach.”

Flory did not respond when Student Life reached out again to ask whether patients would still be able to receive gender-affirming care at the WUTC. 

Reed published an op-ed in The Free Press in February of 2023 about medical practices at the WUTC, which aims to provide healthcare for “transgender and non-binary people in a welcoming, affirming environment.” This story sparked national controversy about how gender-affirming clinics in the U.S. treat patients, with many criticizing Reed for being “misleading.” 

Reed’s story aligned with Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s recent claims that patients at WUTC and their parents were ill-informed about the treatments they were receiving. On Feb. 9, 2023, Bailey started an investigation into the WUTC under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act based on Reed’s allegations. 

“I doubt that any parent who’s ever consented to give their kid testosterone (a lifelong treatment) knows that they’re also possibly signing their kid up for blood pressure medication, cholesterol medication, and perhaps sleep apnea and diabetes,” Reed wrote.

Parents of some WUTC patients pushed back against the notion that the treatments were unsafe or hastily prescribed, stating that they provide necessary, beneficial care. When interviewed by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, they said they felt WUTC’s doctors gave their children “full attention” to let them “ask questions and review possible side effects of treatments.”

Reed’s former co-worker Jess Jones also told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Reed received negative performance reviews at the WUTC in 2021 after suggesting “misgendering” patients as a form of “exposure therapy.” Reed acknowledged the negative reviews in her first op-ed and stated that her 2021 review contrasted her “solidly positive performance reviews” from previous years. 

After the initial publication of this article, Reed wrote in an email to Student Life that Jones’ claims about her misgendering patients were unfounded.

“I have never received a poor performance review for that reason,” Reed wrote “This is a false allegation by a former employee who had personal issues with not only myself on staff but even with the co-directors.”

The Washington University School of Medicine conducted their own internal investigation in April of 2023 in light of Reed’s allegations and stated that her claims were “unsubstantiated.” Additionally, a professor from WashU and a researcher from the University of California, Los Angeles — Jeremy Goldbach and Shannon Dunlap — released an article in February of 2023 opposing Reed’s views and highlighting the importance of gender-affirming care. 

After the investigation, however, the WUTC began to require parental consent before prescribing gender-affirming medications and custody agreements before a minor’s first appointment with the clinic, which Reed’s attorneys state “acknowledges the validity” of her claims.

On Aug. 28, 2023, the WUTC halted gender-affirming care for all minors in response to bill SB49, also known as the SAFE Act, which bars providers from starting gender-affirming therapy for new patients under the age of 18 and makes providers liable for potential damages from gender-affirming care. 

As per the SAFE Act, gender affirming-care is also no longer covered for both minors and adults under Missouri Medicaid, a program that provides medical coverage for 1,358,178 Missouri residents, according to data collected in March of 2024.

Patients receiving gender-affirming care at the WUTC were referred to other providers, including Planned Parenthood Great Plains (PPGP) and Children’s Mercy Hospital, which are now under investigation by the Attorney General’s Office.

In a statement made in August of 2023, Attorney General Bailey said that he supported the SAFE Act as a way to keep youth safe in Missouri.

“I’m proud to be defending the SAFE Act, passed by the General Assembly earlier this year, as we work together to protect vulnerable children from these inhumane science experiments,” Attorney General Bailey wrote.

Rabbi Daniel Bogard — a St. Louis native, the father of a transgender child, and the director of the LGBTQ+ camp Camp Indigo Point — says the push to limit the scope of gender-affirming care and investigate centers like the WUTC is politically motivated, rather than based in science. 

“[The targeting of gender-affirming care clinics] is all about Christian nationalism, and it’s the most significant political force in the state of Missouri,” Bogard told Student Life. 

To Bogard, Attorney General Bailey’s attempts to limit gender-affirming health care means his government is “at war with [his] child and [his] family.” Now, Bogard finds it hard to remain hopeful for the future.

“I live in terror of my government. I live in terror of my Attorney General.”

After the developments at WUTC the past few months, Reed stands by her first op-ed and decision to alert the Attorney General.

“I’ve been asked many times, including by fellow members of the LGBT community, if I regret what I did,” Reed wrote. “The truth is that every day that goes by I grow more confident that I did the right thing.”

According to an FAQ published in January of 2024 by the World Health Organization, evidence for long-term outcomes of gender-affirming care in minors is “limited and variable,” especially since transgender health has been understudied. Today, more longitudinal studies are coming out regarding the effects of gender-affirming care. 

In their article, Goldbach and Dunlap cited studies that show that young people who receive gender-affirming care are 60% less likely to experience moderate to severe depression, and 74% less likely to have suicidal thoughts. 

In a written statement to Student Life, Communications Director for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers (PPGR) Nick Dunne said that amidst uncertainty regarding the safety of certain medical services, it is important to contact your health care providers with any questions or concerns.

“When misinformation spreads about health care providers, it creates a lot of uncertainty for patients who depend on those services, and may lead to deferred care,” Dunne said. “We always recommend patients contact their provider directly if they have any concerns about how current events and news affects their care.”

Editor’s note: This article was updated on July 30, 2024, to include comment from Jamie Reed regarding allegations about her work history. 

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