California AG Sues San Diego Hospital Over Ending Gender Transition Care for Minors

Lawsuit alleges hospital complied with Trump-era policies, denying care to transgender youth

Feb. 1, 2026 at 11:47pm

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California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit against a San Diego hospital, alleging it ended gender transition treatment for minors in order to comply with policies implemented during the Trump administration. The lawsuit claims the hospital's actions violated state laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles over access to gender-affirming healthcare, especially for transgender youth, as policies have shifted between presidential administrations. The lawsuit seeks to protect the rights of transgender individuals to receive medically necessary care without discrimination.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the San Diego hospital stopped providing gender transition services for minors in 2021 after the Trump administration implemented policies that discouraged such treatments. The hospital cited these federal policies as the reason for ending the services, even though California law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity.

  • The hospital stopped providing gender transition services for minors in 2021.
  • California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed the lawsuit against the hospital in February 2026.

The players

Rob Bonta

The Attorney General of California, who filed the lawsuit against the San Diego hospital.

San Diego Hospital

The hospital that ended gender transition treatment for minors, citing Trump-era federal policies as the reason.

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What they’re saying

“We must protect the rights of transgender individuals to receive medically necessary care without discrimination.”

— Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

What’s next

The lawsuit seeks to compel the San Diego hospital to resume providing gender transition services for minors and to award damages to those affected by the hospital's previous actions.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles over access to gender-affirming healthcare, especially for transgender youth, as policies have shifted between presidential administrations. The lawsuit aims to uphold California's non-discrimination laws and ensure transgender individuals can receive the medically necessary care they need.