WASHINGTON — A conservative watchdog group is accusing Planned Parenthood of exploiting a legal loophole to offer gender-related treatments to minors without parental approval.
In a new report, the American Principles Project (APP) claims that some Planned Parenthood clinics are using contraceptive services—legally accessible by minors without parental consent—as a pathway to deliver gender-affirming care, such as stopping periods with birth control.
“Using contraception as a ‘gender-affirming’ treatment is a massive loophole,” the report states. “Most states allow minors to consent to contraceptives on their own.”
The report highlights Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, which serves parts of California and Nevada. In both states, minors can access birth control without parental involvement. The affiliate’s patient guide states that individuals under 16 can receive birth control to stop periods, with no parent or guardian required.
APP points to a Seattle Children’s Hospital case study involving a 14-year-old non-binary patient who used hormonal birth control to stop menstruation, which reportedly improved their mental health. According to the Endocrine Society, certain contraceptives can also suppress testosterone, making them useful for gender-related care.
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest says minors under 18 cannot receive hormone therapy but may consult providers and receive period-stopping medications.
APP President Terry Schilling condemned the practice. “Planned Parenthood is exploiting loopholes to begin transitioning minors behind parents’ backs,” he said.
The group estimates about 80% of Planned Parenthood clinics offer some form of gender-affirming care, with transgender-related visits surpassing abortion services.
In response, Planned Parenthood President Jenny Black said the accusations are false and politically motivated. “We operate under the highest medical standards,” she said. “We strongly denounce the spread of disinformation about life-saving care.”
State laws on gender care for minors vary widely, with some states allowing it without parental consent and others banning it altogether.
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