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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alyssa L. on the Importance of Gender-Affirming Care and Protections for LGBTQ+ Youth
1:45:09
ยท
123 sec
Alyssa L., a parent of a 16-year-old transgender son, testified in support of all the bills and resolutions discussed, emphasizing the importance of gender-affirming care and protections for LGBTQ+ youth. She shared her son's positive transition experience in New York City and expressed concern about recent threats to transgender healthcare access.
- Highlighted the urgent need for the bill sponsored by council member Hanif regarding affirming gender-affirming care
- Described the impact of some New York hospitals and clinics temporarily stopping care for transgender youth
- Mentioned considering leaving the country if gender-affirming care becomes unavailable for her son
Alyssa L.
1:45:09
Hello.
1:45:10
Hello chairperson Lewis and members of the committee.
1:45:12
My name is Alyssa Lam.
1:45:14
My pronouns are sheher, and I live in District 38.
1:45:17
I have a trans son who's a junior in high school.
1:45:21
He's 16, and I came here today because I am terrified for his future and for the future of all the LGBTQ plus youth and adults who are right now in danger of having their human rights taken away.
1:45:35
So I support all the bills and resolutions today, and I just wanted to speak a little about why.
1:45:42
Since he transitioned at age 11 or began transitioning, my son has become a happy, thriving human being.
1:45:48
He plays in a school jazz band, he goes out for falafel with his friends, he loves cats, and he loves cat videos.
1:45:56
He wants to be a musician when he grows up.
1:45:59
He would not have had such a smooth and easy transition if not for the laws and protections that exist in New York City right now because of the way the NYC DOE and his teachers made it no big deal to change his name and pronouns, the way he had access to the medical care he needed with no judgment, and the way the city made it easy to change his legal documents without a hitch.
1:46:20
He was able to become the person he I he always knew he was.
1:46:27
I guess the bill that I find most urgent today is the one sponsored by council member Shanif regarding affirming gender affirming care because I witnessed what happened just last month when hospitals and clinics in New York stopped, some of them, stopped providing health care to transgender youth even for a brief period.
1:46:46
Some of them have not fully resumed it.
1:46:49
Families were thrown into despair, and kids had to be told that the care they need in order to be happy and healthy was not going to be provided for them.
1:46:56
It would be devastating for my son, it did not happen to us yet, but we're waiting for the day when our clinic calls to tell us that he can no longer receive care because of the executive order.
1:47:07
We've strongly considered leaving the country if that happens.
1:47:11
So thank you.