Gender-Affirming Healthcare Seekers Get Protection In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney Tuesday signed an executive order protecting people from potential penalization for seeking gender-affirming health care in the city.

Executive Order No. 4-23 forbids local government from providing information or assistance to any investigation that seeks to penalize anyone, whether a resident or a visitor, who seeks such care in Philadelphia, except as required by state or federal law.

"This Executive Order, which protects individuals seeking, receiving and providing gender-affirming health care, will safeguard the dignity and equal rights of transgender and gender diverse people, whether they call Philadelphia home or seek care in our welcoming city," Kenney said.

Kenney's office cited "an explosion of anti-transgender laws across the country" in the impetus for the executive order.

Specifically, laws "that aim to deny transgender and gender diverse individuals the right to live as their authentic selves and to receive necessary and often life-saving gender-affirming health care."

"Our mission and duty at the Office of LGBT Affairs is to advocate for our LGBTQIA+ community through support, education and resources," said Celena Morrison-McLean, Executive Director, Office of LGBT Affairs. "This is a huge day for Philadelphia, as the city publicly declares with this Executive Order that it will not use city resources for out-of-state investigations related to receiving or providing gender-affirming care."

According to Kenney's office, nearly 1.2 million LGBTQIA+ Americans have moved from their city or state in response to bills that have been passed, including 128,000 trans people.

"The City of Philadelphia has a longstanding commitment to protecting all people’s right to privacy and bodily autonomy, and Executive Order No. 4-23 will ensure transgender and gender diverse people are protected and cared for with equal rights," the announcement for the order reads. "This Executive Order not only helps to ensure the safety of LGBTQIA+ adults, children, and their families; it also publicly reaffirms Philadelphia’s ongoing effort to advance equality and support our diverse communities."