Northwestern deal raises questions about future of transgender care and rights
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Northwestern's settlement with the Trump administration has led to confusion about the future of transgender students at the university and patients at Northwestern hospitals.
The big picture: Transgender rights have been under attack since President Trump took office, including changes the administration has made to Title IX, the 1972 law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational settings.
- The Trump administration has taken legal action against schools it claims violate the administration's declaration that there are only two genders that are determined by sex defined at birth.
Driving the news: Northwestern's $75 million agreement resolves federal investigations into the school's transgender policies and releases nearly $800 million in federal research funds that had been rescinded, millions of which was paid this week.
The settlement will be paid over three years and does not mean the school admits to any wrongdoing.
The fine print: The agreement states that Northwestern and its Feinberg School of Medicine "shall not perform hormonal interventions and transgender surgeries, including but not limited to mastectomies, phalloplasties, vaginoplasties, and/or any other procedure intended to alter an individual's sex characteristics, on any individual under the age of 18 years old," but Feinberg had never performed these surgeries, according to the university.
- When asked how it would affect other gender-affirming care and if the agreement would preclude Feinberg from performing these surgeries when the agreement is up in three years, university spokesperson Kristin Samuelson declined to provide more details and directed Axios to an FAQ that did not answer those questions.
- Chris King from Northwestern Medicine referred Axios back to the university to answer questions about the future of transgender care at the hospital.
Zoom in: Supporters of the agreement say the release of research funds is essential, while opponents accuse Northwestern leadership of capitulation.
What they're saying: Professor Ken Gentry asks in a Daily Northwestern op-ed this week, "What will happen to, for example, the all-gender bathrooms in residence halls if a request is made?"
- Daniel Biss, Evanston mayor and candidate for the 9th Congressional District, sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon this week saying, "Any interference in access to essential medical treatment — particularly for transgender youth and adults — would have immediate, harmful consequences for our residents. Our community needs a full and complete understanding of how this agreement impacts Northwestern Medicine."
- "Since well before this agreement, Northwestern has faltered on any commitments to protecting or supporting queer and trans students," reads a joint statement from Northwestern's Rainbow Alliance and Society for Trans and Non-binary Students.
- Neither group responded to Axios' requests for further comment.