A Democratic state lawmaker in Michigan has publicly offered to help minors obtain gender-related medical procedures, telling children directly to contact her office for assistance. State Representative Carrie Rheingans made the statement in a TikTok video while wearing a “Protect Trans Kids” sweatshirt. The message was directed at minors in response to the University of Michigan’s decision to halt gender procedures for individuals under 18.
Rheingans addressed “trans kids here in Michigan,” reassuring them that “gender-affirming care is still legal” in the state. She told viewers, “Please reach out to our office—we’ll be able to connect you to what might still be available in our community.” The video was posted on August 26, following reports that the University of Michigan health system paused all such procedures for minors.
According to Rheingans, the pause was the result of pressure from the Department of Justice. She criticized the decision and told viewers that her office would assist minors in locating alternate providers. Her statement came amid growing national scrutiny over the medical and ethical implications of administering hormone treatments, puberty blockers, and surgeries to minors.
Rheingans’s invitation has sparked backlash from conservative lawmakers and parents’ rights groups. Critics argue that elected officials should not facilitate or promote irreversible medical interventions for children, especially when hospital systems have chosen to suspend those procedures. Several parental rights advocates have called for formal inquiries into whether Rheingans’s actions violate ethical or legal boundaries concerning medical consent.
In recent months, European countries including Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom have reversed course on pediatric gender medicine, citing safety concerns and a lack of long-term evidence. In the United States, the debate continues over whether minors are capable of making permanent medical decisions and whether public officials should intervene in those processes.
