Oakland City Council Reaffirms Commitment to Gender-Affirming Care

Resolution demands compliance with state laws and condemns preemptive restrictions on transgender healthcare access.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:27pm

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The Oakland City Council passed a resolution on March 16, 2026, to protect the rights of transgender, gender-nonconforming, intersex, and Two-Spirit (TGNCI2S) residents to access medically necessary healthcare. The resolution was introduced by Councilmembers Rowena Brown, Zac Unger, and Charlene Wang in response to recent federal proposals to strip Medicare and Medicaid funding from hospitals providing gender-affirming care to youth, as well as local shifts in care such as Kaiser Oakland no longer providing gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19 as of August 2025.

Why it matters

This resolution reaffirms Oakland's commitment to defending the rights, dignity, and healthcare access of transgender and gender non-conforming people, especially in the face of federal efforts to roll back protections for the LGBTQ+ community. It also signals the city's alignment with California's legal challenges against federal attempts to limit healthcare access.

The details

The resolution demands that healthcare providers and insurers adhere to California laws, including the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. It also condemns providers for stopping or delaying state-protected care before any final, legally binding federal rules are implemented.

  • The Oakland City Council passed the resolution on March 16, 2026.
  • As of August 2025, Kaiser Oakland no longer provides gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19.

The players

Rowena Brown

Oakland Councilmember and San Francisco Bay Times columnist.

Zac Unger

Oakland Councilmember.

Charlene Wang

Oakland Councilmember.

Rob Bonta

California Attorney General who is leading legal challenges against federal efforts to limit healthcare access.

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What they’re saying

“Gender-affirming care is life-saving care. Our healthcare providers must not crumble under Trump administration pressure. By safeguarding this care, we are reaffirming a community that values the wellbeing of all its residents.”

— Zac Unger, Oakland Councilmember

“At a time when the federal government is rolling back long-standing protections for the LGBTQ+ community, I strongly support this resolution reaffirming the importance of gender-affirming care in Oakland. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, I know firsthand how important it is that our city continues to defend the rights, dignity, and healthcare access of transgender and gender non-conforming people. As Oaklanders, we must do everything in our power to ensure that transgender and gender non-conforming individuals can live safely, exist freely, and thrive in our community. The resilience of the LGBTQ+ community during these challenging times is deeply inspiring, and I am proud to continue the fight for a more just future for LGBTQ+ youth in Oakland and beyond.”

— Rowena Brown, Oakland Councilmember

What’s next

The Oakland City Council's resolution reaffirms the city's commitment to protecting the rights of TGNCI2S residents and aligns Oakland with California's legal challenges against federal efforts to limit healthcare access. The next step will be to monitor the implementation of the resolution and ensure healthcare providers and insurers adhere to state laws.

The takeaway

This resolution demonstrates Oakland's steadfast support for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, in the face of ongoing threats to their healthcare access and civil rights. It signals the city's determination to safeguard the wellbeing and dignity of all its residents, regardless of gender identity.