A transgender rights activist delivered a theory about the timing of bills being passed affecting “gender affirming” care and how the Trump administration is employing distractions.
In an appearance on CNN, Harleigh Walker accused Republicans and the Trump administration of trying to distract from the Epstein files by pushing anti-trans policies.
“Republicans on multiple fronts this week seeking to limit access to gender affirming care for transgender youth,” host Erica Hill said on “CNN Newsroom.”
“The GOP-controlled House passed two bills, one to block Medicaid funds from being used for gender affirming care for minors, another to criminalize the act of providing that care for doctors and hospitals,” she reported. “The Trump administration is also announcing new proposed rules to ban hospitals from participating in Medicare and Medicaid if they provide gender affirming care for people under 18.”
(Video Credit: CNN)
“When you heard about these latest moves by the government, what did you make of this push to criminalize health care?” Hill asked Walker, setting the stage for the narrative.
“I‘m not surprised. We‘ve seen moves by this administration and Republican state legislatures similar in the past. But I am very disappointed. I think that transgender people, being a fraction of the population, and this care being proven to be life-saving and medically necessary,” Walker replied. “I think, for Republicans to attack such a small community repeatedly, whenever there‘s other issues such as affordability and rising health care costs, et cetera. I think it‘s very, very troubling to see Republicans continue these attacks.”
“You mentioned, you know, feeling attacked. Why do you think the transgender community is such a focus in this moment?” Hill asked, again setting up the response.
“I think that, you know, Republican politicians see the transgender community as a way for them to easily get a cultural ideological divide on Democrats and divide Americans on such a small, sensitive issue to distract from other issues,” Walker said. “Like I said previously, from rising healthcare costs, from, you know, the Epstein files that we’re talking about just earlier, I think we’re being used as a political scapegoat to further their agenda.”
The trans activist was also allowed to attack Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose stand on gender-affirming care was seen as “laughable.”
“Whenever you pass laws like the bills that were passed in the House, whenever you pass anti-transgender legislation in the state senate, that’s whenever you see a huge mental health toll on transgender Americans,” Walker said. “That’s when you see a rise in suicide rates. That’s when you see these horrible mental health outcomes versus when transgender youth have access to this lifesaving care; You see better mental health. You see, overall, transgender youth being happier and healthier, et cetera. So, I think it’s the exact opposite of the way the secretary is framing it.”
Walker claimed that during an appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2023, “not a single Republican senator asked me a question.”
“And I think they were scared to ask me any questions because they knew, you know, asking a trans kid a question about their health care was going to make them look bad.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
- House Dem who can barely speak English introduces bill to abolish ICE - January 15, 2026
- Illegal immigrant charged with killing two North Carolina teens - January 15, 2026
- Parents erupt into massive brawl during Catholic youth basketball game in Staten Island - January 15, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.