Delaware Expands Protections for Gender-Affirming Care

On Friday, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer took a significant step by signing an executive order designed to enhance protections for both recipients and providers of gender-affirming care.

“In Delaware, we value privacy, dignity, and the right to make personal medical decisions,” Meyer stated. “Everyone deserves the freedom to access healthcare rooted in science and compassion.”

This new executive order bars state agencies from sharing medical records, data, or claims information and from utilizing state resources in any criminal or civil investigations related to individuals receiving or providing gender-affirming care.

Moreover, the state’s professional regulatory board has indicated that health professionals cannot be dismissed solely for offering gender-affirming care.

Delaware joins a growing list of states, including California, New York, Illinois, and Washington, DC, which have enacted similar laws to shield patients and healthcare providers from stringent laws in states that heavily restrict gender-affirming care.

This initiative allows patients to seek care in Delaware without the fear of repercussions from their home states.

The move contrasts sharply with Tennessee’s recent decision, which followed the Supreme Court’s ruling on June 18 to prohibit adolescent blockers and hormonal treatments for transgender minors.

“The ruling undermines the doctors who provide care to some of our country’s most vulnerable patients,” said Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), notably the first openly transgender member of Congress.

Since the Trump administration took office, there has been an increasing trend of restricted rights for transgender individuals. Trump’s administration made significant moves to limit recognition of gender, tried to ban transgender individuals from the military, and even dismissed requests for changes related to gender on passports, while cutting funding for gender-affirming medical care.

Delaware has a long-standing reputation for being inclusive towards LGBTQ groups, with an estimated 40,000 LGBTQ individuals residing in the state, including around 6,300 transgender adults.

The state legalized same-sex marriage in 2013 and has implemented non-discrimination laws covering housing, employment, and public facilities.

In a press statement earlier this week, the Executive Committee of the Delaware Democrat Pride Caucus emphasized, “We will do everything in our power to protect transgender families across Delaware and across the country.”

They urged lawmakers at all levels to speak out and take action, adding, “This is a moment of action—let’s not be cautious but rather be brave.”