At QueerDoc, we believe in science, autonomy, and liberation—not political interference in our bodies or our lives. When the Alaska State Medical Board released a harmful and misleading statement about gender affirming care for youth on March 21, 2025, we knew we couldn’t stay silent.
Our founder and lead physician, Dr. Crystal Beal, has provided expert, evidence-based care to more transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth in Alaska than any other provider. So when the Board decided to ignore decades of peer-reviewed research and the lived experiences of Alaskan families, Dr. Beal responded with clarity, compassion, and science.
This is the letter Dr. Beal sent to the Alaska State Legislature—and we’re sharing it here so our community can see exactly what we stand for. We encourage you to read it, share it, and use it as a guide if you’re writing your own letter, speaking to lawmakers, or just trying to make sense of what’s happening.
March 25, 2025
Alaska State Senate
Alaska State House of Representatives
Re: Alaska Medical Boards Letter on Gender Dysphoria in Minors
Dear Members of the Alaska State Legislature,
My name is Dr. Crystal Beal, and I am a board-certified family medicine physician and founder of QueerDoc, a clinic providing expert, individualized medical care to transgender people in Alaska and beyond. I am writing in response to the March 21, 2025 letter from the Alaska State Medical Board regarding gender dysphoria and transgender medical care for minors.
Let me be clear: this statement from the Medical Board is not rooted in science—it is rooted in discrimination, misinformation, and political ideology. It misrepresents the robust and growing body of peer-reviewed scientific evidence supporting medical care for transgender adolescents and perpetuates harm against transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth in Alaska.
The Board claims there is “insufficient evidence” to support transgender medical care for minors. This is demonstrably false. Since 1975, over 2,000 scientific studies have been published about this care across age groups, including more than 260 studies cited in the Endocrine Society’s Clinical Practice Guidelines—the global gold standard for transgender medicine. The first Western medicine-based transgender medical clinic was founded in 1919 in pre-war Germany. The first WPATH guidelines were published in 1979 with on-going regular updates to reflect the latest research. When we look specifically at youth, over 21 peer-reviewed studies, involving more than 55,000 participants, demonstrate that individualized medical care improves mental health outcomes for TGD adolescents following a care model developed in the late 1980s to early 1990s. These outcomes include:
- Lower rates of depression and anxiety
- Reduced suicidal ideation and suicide attempts
- Improved self-esteem and general life functioning
But I don’t just know this from the data—I know it from my work with patients across Alaska. I’ve had the privilege of providing care to more transgender youth in Alaska than any other provider. And I’ve seen firsthand how access to individualized, evidence-based medical care transforms lives.
Let me tell you about one of my patients. She’s a 20-year-old trans woman now, but we began her care when she was just 15. She accessed individualized medical care to treat her gender dysphoria in adolescence. Today, she’s thriving—working as a barista, putting herself through college, and living independently in her own apartment. She’s doing great in school and has clear plans for her future. She wants to stay in Alaska. She wants to give back to the community that raised her.
This is what the research tells us to expect: trans youth who access medical care often achieve mental health outcomes on par with their cisgender peers. Transgender medical care allows adolescents to focus on school, friendships, first jobs, and emotional development—just like any other teenager. It lets them grow into adults who can contribute fully to their families, workplaces, and communities.
But when we politicize their healthcare—when we threaten to take it away—we jeopardize all of that. Young Alaskans like my patient will leave. They’ll seek out states where they can live authentically and access care without fear. And Alaska will lose a generation of talented, driven, resilient young people.
Alaskans value personal freedom, individual liberty, and the right to make decisions for themselves and their families. Medical decisions should be made between a patient, their family, and their healthcare provider—not by politicians or politically appointed boards. Government overreach into personal, evidence-based care goes against everything this state stands for.
The Board’s recommendation to impose blanket restrictions is not only medically unfounded—it’s harmful and out of step with national standards. Every major U.S. medical association—the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, among others—supports access to transgender medical care as medically necessary and life-saving.
I know there’s a lot of confusion and disinformation surrounding this topic. That’s why I’ve included a fact sheet with references to clarify what the science actually says. I’m also available for follow-up questions, evidence review, or deeper discussion—I am here as a resource.
Transgender youth in Alaska deserve care rooted in evidence, autonomy, and respect—not political interference. They deserve the chance to thrive here, in their home state. And Alaska deserves the bright future these young people are already building.
With deep concern and unwavering commitment,
Dr. Crystal Beal
Founder & Lead Physician, QueerDoc
Board-Certified Family Medicine & Transgender Medicine Specialist
What Can You Do?
📬 Write to your legislators. Personal stories matter. Evidence matters. Your voice matters.
📢 Share this blog. Let your community know what’s happening.
đź‘Ą Support trans youth in Alaska. Check in. Show up. Speak out.
At QueerDoc, we are raising the bar in queer and gender affirming healthcare—and we’re proud to stand with TGD youth across Alaska and beyond.
Need talking points, evidence summaries, or help writing your own letter? We got you. Email us at info@queerdoc.com or message us through the Patient Portal.
🧬📚💖
—The QueerDoc Team