PRESS STATEMENT

HMI CEO Amy Harclerode Responds to NYU Langone’s Decision to End Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Minors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 18, 2026, NEW YORK, NY

We are deeply saddened by NYU Langone’s decision to end gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. For many young people and families, this program represented trusted, medically necessary care delivered within stable clinical relationships. Disrupting that continuity creates uncertainty and distress at a time when consistency and support are critical to a young person’s well-being.

Gender-affirming care is evidence-based health care. Health decisions for young people should be guided by clinical expertise, patient needs, and medical ethics. We urge NYU Langone to provide clear communication to impacted families and to ensure thoughtful transitions and appropriate referrals so that no young person is left without care. Moments like this underscore how fragile access to care can become when institutions respond to uncertainty by retreating rather than reinforcing support.

At HMI, we will continue to support trans, gender-nonconforming, and nonbinary youth through affirming, trauma-informed mental health services and community-based care. Young people deserve stability, dignity, and access to the health care that allows them to thrive.

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For questions, contact:

Gino Hawley
HMI Marketing Communications
917-319-4079
ghawley@hmi.org

About Hetrick-Martin Institute

Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI) is the nation’s oldest LGBTQIA+ youth services organization, dedicated to helping queer and trans youth—primarily youth of color between the ages of 13 and 24—thrive. HMI provides free, long-term support through a comprehensive array of direct services—including mental health services, basic needs assistance, educational and career-readiness programming, and arts and culture opportunities—alongside referrals to trusted partner organizations. With a deep commitment to equity and inclusion, HMI continues to lead the way in youth development, while offering program models that inspire and inform other organizations nationwide.