Four San Diego-area families filed a class action lawsuit against Rady Children’s Health, alleging the regional health system violated the civil rights of their transgender children by discontinuing gender-affirming care. The complaint, filed in San Diego County Superior Court on Thursday, accuses Rady of discriminating against transgender children in violation of multiple state laws. The lawsuit states that “roughly 1,900 patients of Rady’s gender clinic suffered harm from canceled appointments, inability to access medications such as hormone therapy and emotional distress caused by the hospital’s decision.” The complaint asserts that by “singling out transgender patients and terminating their medically necessary care without consent or concern for their physical and mental health, defendants have discriminated against plaintiffs on the basis of their sex, gender identity, and disability.”
Federal Pressure and State Response
In late January, Rady Children’s Health announced it would no longer provide gender-affirming care for minors, citing “recent federal actions.” The Trump administration has characterized transgender health procedures as “chemical and surgical mutilation” and directed federal agencies to defund supportive programs. Federal investigators have subpoenaed clinics and hospitals nationwide, including Rady Children’s Health. The Trump administration is also pursuing a rule change that would eliminate government funding for hospitals providing transgender health care to minors, effectively creating a near-total national ban. California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued Rady in February under the state’s corporations code, alleging violation of a merger agreement that required maintaining existing services, including gender-affirming care. A judge issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting service termination, with litigation ongoing.
Medical Community and Legal Advocacy
The country’s leading medical societies, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, recognize gender dysphoria as a serious medical condition requiring treatment, supported by dozens of independent scientific studies. California law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and defines gender-affirming services—which can include therapy, hormone treatment, and surgery—as “medically necessary health care.” Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, which represents the plaintiffs, emphasized the broader implications: “We can’t just as a society stand by silently and passively while hospitals, of all places, make decisions to exclude an entire group of people just based on who they are. That sets such a dangerous precedent.”
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://timesofsandiego.com/health/2026/03/21/san-diego-lawsuit-rady-childrens-transgender/