gender-affirming care

American  

[jen-der uh-fur-ming kair] / ˈdʒɛn dər əˈfɜr mɪŋ ˈkɛər /

noun

1. medical, social, and psychological approaches and therapies that aim to affirm a transgender patient's identity or align their physical characteristics more closely with their gender: Many transgender Americans struggle to access gender-affirming care in their own city.

   The research team included experts in endocrinology, urology, and gender-affirming care.

   Many transgender Americans struggle to access gender-affirming care in their own city.

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Etymology

Origin of gender-affirming care

First recorded in 2005–10

Example Sentences

The executive order and Kennedy declaration both define gender-affirming care as the use of puberty blockers, hormone treatment, and surgery.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

Polling from Democratic think tank Searchlight Institute found that 70% of voters, including majorities of Republican and Trump voters, support anti-discrimination protections for trans Americans and around 67% support access to gender-affirming care for adults.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

But these LGBTQ+ healthcare workers are determined to provide gender-affirming care.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2025

Both seek gender-affirming care; only one can access it.

From Slate • Jun. 18, 2025

So first, and most obviously, whatever the court decides will profoundly impact access to gender-affirming care.

From Salon • Jun. 16, 2025