Access to gender affirming health care and surgery in particular has become a real challenge to find outside New Jersey, and it's made the state a safe haven for those who need it.

From hair removal to gynecological screenings and complex surgeries, research shows this form of care is not only vital to transgender youth, but it also saves lives.

Our health care writer, Lilo Stainton, has been looking into the issue for months and found New Jersey is now home to a growing gender affirming surgical practice that has a year long waitlist for some procedures.

And Lilo joins me now.

Lilo, good to see you.

I was really taken by the first line in this report that you wrote.

Surgery as suicide prevention.

That is how some folks view this.

Why?

Yeah, well, that that term came from an anecdote that was shared with me, which is a real story.

Actually, I believe there are two incidences of young people who were on the list for surgery when the pandemic struck and what are considered nonessential procedures were canceled or put on hold.

And apparently at least one person decided it was just not worth waiting.

I mean, that's how bleak and desperate the situation was.

And so Dr. Keith, who I write about, lost two patients.

And in that period, I believe.

Yeah.

Dr. Keith is this really phenomenal surgeon who sort of pioneered this path.

I mean, you also wrote about the fact that 80% of trans people experience depression or anxiety, which is like two times the rate of the general population.

What has Dr. Keith brought to New Jersey and to folks who are seeking this care?

I mean, there's a whole suite of things.

So there's sort of, you know, what first got my attention in the story was actually a press release about genital surgery, which is sort of the most extreme or the most the most complicated part of gender affirming care.

Bottom.

Surgery.

Bottom surgery, it's also called.

But there's a whole host of other surgeries as I spent time learning about this.

You know, hair care is a gender affirming procedure, facial surgery, chest reconstruction, maybe ovary removal.

There are lots of different surgeries, hysterectomies that can be part of this sort of suite.

And then there's also really important to think about care for people later in life.

For example, prostate care for women, trans women.

You know, possible need for uterine cancer treatments for trans men.

I mean, these are things when people are scared of going to the doctor, these are things that get left behind.

It's health care.

Yeah.

I mean, but also the fact that there are a number of states, New Jersey, not included, that are limiting access.

What do those barriers then mean for folks who need this health care?

I think the person who explains it best is Avery Heimann.

Young person I spoke with in the piece who talks about who is trans and talks about the calls that they get.

They work at Planned Parenthood from people all over the country who are willing to move to New Jersey to get this care.

And I don't want to suggest that it's easy to get in New Jersey.

I mean, the wait lists are long.

The costs are incredible, you know, And there's a lot of shame and stigma that still surrounds this.

So it's by no means easy.

But we do have a pathway here.

Lilo Stainton, of course, you can read the full report online on our website.

Lilo, thanks so much.

Thanks, Bri.