Delaware Strengthens Protections for Gender-Affirming Care

On Friday, Delaware’s Democratic Governor, Matt Meyer, put pen to paper on an executive order aimed at bolstering protections for both recipients and providers of gender-affirming care.

“Here in Delaware, we really value privacy, dignity, and the right for individuals to make personal medical choices. Everyone should have the freedom to access healthcare that is both compassionate and based in science,” Meyer remarked.

This new executive order bars state agencies from sharing “medical records, data, or claims information,” and prohibits the use of state resources that could aid in criminal or civil inquiries against those receiving or offering gender-affirming care.

Furthermore, the state’s professional regulatory board indicated that it cannot dismiss healthcare professionals solely for providing gender-affirming care.

Delaware isn’t alone; other states, including California, New York, Illinois, and Washington, DC, have implemented similar protections in response to increasingly restrictive laws in other regions.

This move stands in stark contrast to Tennessee’s recent decision, influenced by the June 18th ruling from the Supreme Court which banned adolescent blockers and hormonal treatments for transgender minors.

Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), who is the first openly transgender member of Congress, expressed her concern: “The ruling undermines the doctors who are caring for some of our most vulnerable patients.”

Since the onset of the Trump administration, there has been a noticeable tightening of transgender rights. Trump had previously signed an executive order that sought to recognize only two genders and attempted to bar transgender individuals from serving in the military, among other restrictive measures.

Delaware has a history of being accepting toward LGBTQ communities, with a reported 40,000 LGBTQ individuals and around 6,300 transgender adults residing in the state. In 2013, Delaware became one of the first states to legalize same-sex marriage, and it has enacted non-discrimination laws covering housing, employment, and public facilities.

The Executive Committee of the Delaware Democrat Pride Caucus pledged, “We will do everything we can to protect transgender families, not just in Delaware, but across the nation.” They also called upon lawmakers at all levels—state, county, and federal—to take action. “This is a moment for courage, not caution,” they emphasized.