Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has announced his commitment to exploring legal avenues in response to actions by the Trump administration that he perceives as attacks on gender-affirming care.
"Oregon is proud to be on the forefront of providing access to the lifesaving, gender-affirming care patients need. We must do everything within our power to fight any attempts to limit or restrict that care," Rayfield stated. He expressed concern over the impact these federal actions might have, noting, "Despite the fact that Oregon law remains unchanged, we are already seeing the harmful impact these attacks can have on our community. They hurt families and create uncertainty for healthcare professionals across the state, forcing them to question whether they can continue provide the continuity of care their patients need."
Rayfield emphasized his office's determination: "We are vigorously exploring all legal options to challenge any policies or actions that hinder access to the care Oregonians need and their rights to make their own medical decisions." He added, "We want to ensure that our healthcare providers in Oregon can continue to offer care based on medical necessity and patient well-being, not political interference."
The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics support gender-affirming care services for minors. According to data from the National Institutes of Health, 82% of transgender individuals have reported contemplating suicide, with 40% having attempted it.