Children's hospital drops gender markers on patients' bracelets

Children's Hospital Colorado has removed gender markers from patient bracelets to support their "unique gender identity."

The hospital said its staff understands that "it is not easy to grow up with an expansive gender identity or expression" and "to believe[s] diversified children need a stable support system in their transition. "

The idea was implemented on September 20 after the hospital set up a gender diversity working group, KUSA reported last week. The identification markers were removed from the bracelets in his Aurora Hospital.

"We are seeing more and more patients who have diverse gender identities," said Dr. Natalie Nokoff, of the hospital, to the press. "I think that's true for programs all over the United States."

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A patient, a teenager named Ben, said the change was "huge" for him, since he had been going to the hospital for about two years and identified as a transgender woman.

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It's "bigger than anything on this planet. Looking down and seeing that, I'm just like no. It's not good, "he said.

Ben is part of a group of about 800 patients at TRUE Center for Gender Diversity Hospital, which represents trust, understanding, respect and emergence. The hospital described the group as a "safe space".

Although the gender is omitted from the bracelets, Dr. Nokoff said the medical history of the patients would still be recorded.