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Dr. Miguel Vázquez Rivera, psychologist and director of the True Self Foundation in Puerto Rico, reports a surge in anxiety and suicidal thoughts among transgender individuals following a total ban on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), puberty blockers, and gender-affirming surgeries for those under 21. Enacted through Senate Bill 350, the ban is among the harshest in the U.S., imposing severe penalties on medical providers and parents facilitating care.
The law’s immediate effect denied transgender youth critical medical support, leading to unsafe alternatives, like illegal hormone procurement. Advocacy groups express concern about systemic discrimination, especially given recently passed laws allowing medical providers to refuse treatment based on religious beliefs, which do not protect gender identity. The lack of resources, such as prescribers and clinics, complicates already challenging access to care.
Former Puerto Rican resident Güarix Agosto relocated to New York City after the ban, expressing frustration over years of institutional neglect and barriers to care. As her story highlights, many Puerto Ricans are reconsidering their futures amidst fears for LGBTQ rights.
Dr. Rivera emphasizes the importance of evidence-based healthcare, arguing that restrictive laws are politically motivated and fail to reflect the realities of trans youth’s needs. Despite the difficulties remaining in Puerto Rico, trans advocates strive for a future where they can thrive at home, echoing the sentiment that they want not merely to survive but to flourish in their communities.
Read this related Trek here:
Puerto Rico’s Transition Care Ban Is Driving Trans Kids Into Exile
