HB2007: A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR THE TRANS COMMUNITY
Gov. Jim Justice signed House Bill 2007 into law on March 29, 2023. This guide will be updated as new information & resources are available.
What does House Bill 2007 say?
HB 2007 is a law that restricts transgender-related healthcare in West Virginia for people under the age of 18; this means that soon, care such as gender-affirming hormone therapy and puberty blockers will be restricted in West Virginia for most trans people until they turn 18. This restriction excludes youth who are diagnosed with “severe gender dysphoria” by at least two health care providers. We will have more information about this aspect of the bill in the future.
Youth can still access mental health care, which is not restricted or banned by this law, in West Virginia. This is an evolving area of law and the law is intentionally vague when it comes to how the bill will be enforced. That said, the law does not say that people cannot leave West Virginia and access care in states where it is legal to do so, and a court would likely agree that it is unconstitutional to block people from traveling to other states.
When does HB2007 take effect?
HB 2007 is set to take effect on January 1, 2024. According to the law, patients who receive a diagnosis of “severe gender dysphoria” from two medical providers (including at least one mental health provider) may be able to continue accessing care. Families should speak with their provider about their options in the months ahead.
Can you explain the “severe gender dysphoria” provision?
HB 2007 does not define what “severe gender dysphoria.” Families should speak with their providers about a “severe gender dysphoria” diagnosis to remain in care.
Here are immediate steps impacted communities can take before the bill goes into effect:
1. See your current provider as soon as possible to discuss current needs and options for continued care, including a potential diagnosis of “severe gender dysphoria”;
2. If you are forced to seek care out of state, update your therapy letters to be current to ease the burden of onboarding with new doctors out-of-state;
3. Fill current prescriptions with regard to gender-affirming medical care;
For questions related to navigating gender-affirming care out-of-state, please email WVResources@southernequality.org and reference this #SupportTransYouthWV guide.
Emergency Resources & Patient Navigation Support
Campaign for Southern Equality, in partnership with Fairness WV, is facilitating rapid response emergency funds available to families impacted by HB2007, the anti-trans healthcare ban. Through the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Fund, CSE is providing $500 grants, navigation support, and resources to impacted families as they ensure their children can access the care they need and deserve. Families from across the state can submit a request for information, patient navigation, or a grant by emailing WVResources@southernequality.org and referencing this #SupportTransYouthWV resource guide.
Legal Questions and Needs
Consider consulting with an individual lawyer about your specific needs and questions. For general questions and needs, contact the ACLU of West Virginia.
For Youth and Families Who Need Support:
We know that legislation like this can cause distress. Here are some helpful resources. For immediate medical assistance or law enforcement assistance, call 911.
If you are thinking about hurting yourself, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now the 988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention Hotline), OPEN 24/7, 365 DAYS/YEAR.
Call: 988
Call: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Text: 741741
Chat Online: Click HERE to instant message online.
If you are a LGBTQ person (ages 13-24) who is thinking about hurting yourself or is in crisis, contact The Trevor Project’s 24-Hour Suicide Prevention Hotline, OPEN 24/7, 365 DAYS/YEAR.
Call: 866 4 U TREVOR / (866) 488-7386
Trevor Text: Text ‘START’ to 678-678
Trevor Chat: Click HERE to instant message online.
If you are a transgender person (or friend/family of a transgender person) in crisis or needing support, contact the Trans Lifeline, OPEN 24/7, 365 DAYS/YEAR.
Call: (877) 565-8860
Peer to Peer Support: Peer2Peer.LIVE on Twitch
