A bill to prohibit medical professionals from administering “irreversible” gender-affirming care to minors passed a state House committee on party lines Tuesday, prompting tears from transgender rights activists in the room.
Why it matters: The bill, SB 140, bans hormone therapy and transition-related surgery, which major medical organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics consider medically necessary and potentially lifesaving for transgender youth.
- It is one of more than 100 anti-trans health care bills introduced by Republicans in state legislatures this year, Axios’ Oriana Gonzalez reports.
What they’re saying: “If this bill passes, transgender kids will die,” testified Leonardo Hinnant, a freshman college student from Georgia.
- “Every single representative who votes yes on this bill will have the blood of the children of this state on their hands,” Hinnant declared.
Zoom in: Nearly one in five transgender minors attempted suicide in the past year, according to a 2022 survey by the Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention services.
- 71% of LGBTQ youth — including 86% of trans and/or nonbinary youth — said the debate around state laws “restricting the rights of LGBTQ young people” has negatively impacted their mental health.
The other side: The bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Carden Summers (R-Cordele), told Axios he doesn’t think suicides will increase among transgender minors as a result of the bill. “I don’t believe that. But you know, I hope and pray that’s not the case,” he said.
- Summers told Axios the bill is a compromise compared to what conservative advocacy groups have pushed for, including a complete ban on transgender health care.
- “We’re giving [minors] a chance to make a decision based upon growing up, in maturity,” he said. “And if parents are sitting here saying my children at 14 years old may or may not need surgery, that parent may need to see someone too before they just make that decision for their child that’s completely…
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