Days after releasing a statement regarding the organization’s response to the gender-affirming care ban for minors put in place by the Trump administration, Equality Virginia, along with more than 30 advocacy organizations in the area, including ACLU of Virginia and Grassroots Community Care, signed an open letter on Feb. 13 to Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, and Children’s Hospital of King’s Daughter Health, demanding that they resume gender-affirming care for transgender youth immediately.

“We, the undersigned, write to express our unequivocal opposition to VCU Health, UVA Health and Children’s Hospital of King’s Daughter’s recent decision to suspend and restrict access to lifesaving, evidence-based gender-affirming care for young people and their families across the Commonwealth.” said the letter. “It is imperative that Virginia’s institutions…do not prematurely comply with policies that lack the force of law, particularly when doing so causes demonstrable harm to vulnerable young people. Health care decisions must be based on medical evidence, ethical obligations, and existing legal protections—not political pressure.”

The letter acknowledges Virginia law that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and expression in health care settings and Title IX, which protects marginalized groups from being discriminated against for their gender identity by educational institutions that receive federal funding.

Hours later that same day, Maryland District Judge Brendan Hurson signed an order that temporarily blocks Trump’s executive order banning gender-affirming care for youth. The order used similar verbiage in the open letter, specifically the reference to Title IX and gender-based discrimination. As of Feb. 15 the order will be in effect for 12 more days.