Waving a transgender pride flag, Diego Vasquez stood outside Kaiser Permanente’s Los Angeles hospital at a solidarity march for trans youth, shouting “trans lives matter.” He has received gender-affirming care treatments since age 22 and only regrets not being able to access care earlier.

“If I had this when I was younger, I might have had a better shot at life,” said Vasquez, who is trans. Gender-affirming care “gives (youth) the will to live,” he added.

Vasquez joined a small crowd of protesters gathered on Thursday, Aug. 7, in front of Kaiser’s Los Angeles Medical Center along Sunset Boulevard, condemning the massive health provider’s recent announcement that it will halt gender-affirming surgeries for patients under age 19 , due to the threat of federal funding cuts.

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