Paul Milde III, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, has expressed his stance on gender-related medical procedures for minors. He said that children should be shielded from irreversible medical procedures and criticized Democratic support for gender-related care. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
“VCU Health has very recently announced it is ending transgender procedures on children 19 and under,” said Milde III, House Representative. “This is a very emotional topic. The diff between where Republicans & Democrats in VA stand on this is VERY clear. (R) believe if a child cannot sign a contract, buy alcohol, or join the military, they need to be protected from a life changing mutilation & sterilization surgery.”
In July 2025, VCU Health announced it would permanently end all gender-affirming care for patients under 19, including hormone therapy and puberty blockers. According to Axios, this decision followed pressure from the Trump administration, which threatened to revoke federal research funding for institutions offering transgender care to minors. The move drew sharp criticism from medical and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups across Virginia.
The Williams Institute reports that fewer than 1,400 minors nationwide underwent gender-affirming surgeries in 2021, with even fewer in Virginia. Most gender-affirming care provided to minors consists of reversible puberty blockers or hormone therapy, while surgical procedures are extremely rare. This data counters public perception that such treatments are widespread among youth.
As of late 2024, the Human Rights Campaign notes that 26 states had passed laws banning or severely restricting gender-affirming medical care for minors. These laws impact about 40% of transgender youth aged 13–17 and vary in enforcement, with some states criminalizing providers and others imposing civil penalties. The legal landscape remains sharply divided by region.
According to the official site of the Virginia General Assembly, Milde has represented the 64th District in the House of Delegates since 2024 and previously served on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. He sits on the Transportation and Privileges and Elections Committees and has emphasized opposition to gender-related medical procedures for minors in recent statements.
