St. Luke’s History
St. Luke’s Health System has not been a stranger to controversy the last several years. They have been harassed by Ammon Bundy and sued him and won, and they sued Idaho over its near-total abortion ban and won and can now provide emergency abortions when necessary.
It’s no secret that the Idahoan government actively doesn’t like the Queer community, and the volley of bills that got passed this year are a clear example of that. However, the City of Boise decided to push back against that queerphobia and made national headlines in the process. They are fully aware that there are going to be legal challenges because they are choosing to support me and my community.
St. Luke’s has done its best to be good to the Queer community, and I have a friend who consistently says how affirming they are. It has a page which points to doctors who specialize in Queer healthcare, has a Queer cancer support group, has a non-discrimination policy for sexual orientation and gender identity, has been a high-level sponsor of the Boise Pride Fest for years, marches in the Boise Pride march, often has a booth at Queer events, and has also raised a Pride flag in June and declared “we have a responsibility to demonstrate ways in which we can be inclusive and welcoming.”
Political Realities
However, things have changed since Donald Trump got re-elected. The fascists of the United States crafted a political agenda called “Project 2025”, and Queer people – specifically those of us who are transgender – are one of the chief targets. As of right now, 67% of the goals of targeting the Queer community have already been accomplished.
One of the objectives in Project 2025 is to ban Medicaid, CHIP, and ACA health plans from covering transgender healthcare (puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgery). On Trump’s first day he issued Executive Order 14187, which directed federal agencies to withhold funding from healthcare providers that offer transgender healthcare to people 19 or younger.
Worryingly, the House of Representatives passed their spending bill, which would ban coverage for transgender healthcare (puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgery) through Medicaid, CHIP, and Obamacare for any age. Over 150,000 transgender people are on Medicaid alone, and they are in very real danger of losing their life-saving medication.
St. Luke’s Response
The day Trump was inaugurated I knew that the initial executive orders were just going to be the first step in a movement to completely illegalize transgender healthcare. I was so sure that this was going to happen that I went to my doctor and demanded a year’s supply of my hormones, and I was able to get it.
I was frustrated that I was treated like I was being hysterical, however I chalked it up to the doctor not being as intimately informed on the politics of being transgender as I am. My friend who works at St. Luke’s also assured me that they truly do everything they can to help and support the Queer community. I was cautiously appeased.
I was given a glimmer of hope when The City of Boise was able to codify the intersectional pride flag as an official city flag. It made me feel like even if the federal and Idahoan governments are oppressive, there is still hope that community organizations will still effectively fight for Queer folks in the public sphere. However, today there was an internal St. Luke’s memo that was leaked. In full, it says:
Memo
Senior Leader Memo
Monday, May 19, 2025
Quick glance: Headlines from today’s memo
- June: Honoring Pride Month
June: Honoring Pride Month
St. Luke’s is committed to enhancing inclusion and belonging among our team members, patients and the communities we serve, because every person deserves our respect and our best, because each of us has unique needs and because it’s the right thing to do. Inclusion and belonging transcend a single group, background or culture; they encompass fostering an environment that values the unique strengths, experiences and perspectives of all team members, which drives exceptional patient-centered care.
Over the years, our efforts have focused on raising awareness through education, reviewing and updating policies, diversifying our supply chain vendors and sponsoring inclusive community events. In June 2022, as part of our ongoing endeavor to cultivate belonging among team members and community members, signal everyone is welcome at St. Luke’s and raise awareness related to health disparities among marginalized groups, including the LGBTQIA+ community, we began flying the Inclusive Progress Pride flag at our hospital sites and plaza.
In recent months, local efforts to raise the Inclusive Progress Pride flag have become increasingly contentious for some. This has diverted focus to public debates about the flag rather than our original intent to signal that St. Luke’s is a welcoming environment for all and to affirm our commitment to being a trusted health care partner for every person.
Considering this current environment, and to ensure our focus remains on the many ways we support our team members and communities, we will not raise the Inclusive Progress Pride flag at our medical centers or plaza. However, to continue to visibly demonstrate our commitment to being an inclusive, trusted health care partner for every person, we are exploring alternative displays and possibilities with our newly forming LGBTQIA+ employee resource group. Ideas are currently being gathered, and we will share more information through The Source in the coming weeks.
This decision was challenging, and we acknowledge it may disappoint some members of St. Luke’s and our community. We remain committed to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, addressing health disparities, providing inclusive care and offering opportunities for our team members to learn about, understand and support marginalized groups. We will continue to uphold these commitments through our actions and continue to sponsor and support several community events, such as Twin Falls Pride, Canyon County Pride, Boise Pride Festival, McCall Pride+ and others.
More information about Pride Month events and opportunities will be listed on The Source. Learn more about volunteer opportunities here. Comments, questions or ideas can be sent to [email protected]
There is a key part of this memo that I want to point out again:
“In June 2022, as part of our ongoing endeavor to cultivate belonging among team members and community members, signal everyone is welcome at St. Luke’s and raise awareness related to health disparities among marginalized groups, including the LGBTQIA+ community, we began flying the Inclusive Progress Pride flag at our hospital sites and plaza.
In recent months, local efforts to raise the Inclusive Progress Pride flag have become increasingly contentious for some. … Considering this current environment … we will not raise the Inclusive Progress Pride flag at our medical centers or plaza.”
Keep in mind, this decision to stop flying the Pride flag was never publicly announced – it was leaked by the Idaho Family Policy Center, a group affiliated with the Family Policy Alliance, which GLAAD classifies as an anti-LGBTQ hate group. The organization openly celebrated the hospital’s move, claiming it was the result of their pressure.
Conclusion
When the political climate was safer under a Democratic presidency, St. Luke’s proudly declared that it had a responsibility to be visibly supportive of the Queer community by flying the Queer flag. However, now that a Republican administration empowering far-right actors, the hospital has attempted to quietly take that backed away. In doing so, it has shown itself to be a fair-weather ally, choosing caution over courage at a time when Queer people – especially transgender individuals – are under direct attack. Even the City of Boise is willing to stand firm – St. Luke’s, disappointingly, is not.