A southern state that banned medical gender transition for children is funding a network of doctors and therapists who promote some of those same controversial treatments, an investigation found. The nonprofit, Charlotte Transgender Healthcare Group, openly touts puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones as treatment options for minors.

State Law and Funding

North Carolina state law strictly forbids body-altering gender treatments on children younger than 18, including puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries. However, the state’s Department of Health and Human Services is providing $1.28 million in funding to the Charlotte Transgender Healthcare Group through 2027.

The department claims the grant only covers adult mental health services, but it has not explained how that’s being policed. The agency also has not produced any oversight records. Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of NC Values Coalition, a conservative Christian nonprofit, said, ‘It’s shocking… It’s obvious from the latest bills from the General Assembly on this topic that this violates the spirit of these laws and the public policy of the state.’

Nonprofit’s Services

Charlotte Transgender Healthcare’s website suggests children as young as infants and toddlers can be treated with ‘gender-affirming care’ – which critics of pediatric gender medicine say likely means steering them on a pathway where drugs and surgeries would be eventual options. The site even lists healthcare providers for kids.

The nonprofit’s executive director, psychologist Holly Savoy, declined to explain what kind of gender-affirming care toddlers and elementary school-aged children might receive. Savoy’s own website profile says she has advanced competency for treating youth ages 11 to 17, plus adults over 18.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.