After undergoing surgery, Ashton Colby was bedridden, unable to move his arms or complete even basic tasks.

Through every step of his recovery from top surgery, his father, Rick Colby, stood by him—providing the support Ashton never expected from his conservative Republican parent. After coming out as transgender at 19, Ashton feared rejection, but instead, his father helped him navigate therapy, doctor’s appointments, and medical care—support he says saved his life.

Rick, a Trump voter in 2024, sees himself as part of a broader fight against misconceptions and legislation targeting transgender rights. However, he now faces a difficult reality: a new executive order from Trump that blocks federal funding for providers of gender-affirming care for minors. Though the order is aimed at those under 19, it is causing disruptions even for adult patients like Ashton.

Many hospitals and clinics temporarily halted care in response to the order before two federal judges issued a pause. Despite this, providers fear future funding cuts, and some have warned patients they may have to travel out of state for treatment. Ashton’s Ohio clinic, where he has received care since 2015, recently informed him that patients may need to seek care in Pennsylvania due to the uncertainty.

The executive order has thrown the medical community into chaos, even in states that previously protected gender-affirming care. Many healthcare providers report anxious calls from patients fearing disruptions to hormone therapy, which can have significant medical consequences if interrupted. Some families are even considering relocating abroad to ensure continued access to treatment.

While legal challenges to the order continue, medical institutions remain in a difficult position—balancing their commitment to patient care against the risk of losing critical federal funding. “It’s cruel because you must choose who’s going to suffer,” said one pediatric doctor, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns.

Rick Colby, despite his political views, stands firmly against the Trump administration’s crackdown on transgender healthcare. “I agree with almost everything Trump is doing—except this,” he said. For him, supporting his son’s medical journey was never about politics. “It doesn’t matter where you stand politically. What matters is keeping your child alive, happy, and thriving.”

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