Proponents of the bill argued that transgender youth might face long-term consequences from treatment they might later regret.
“Their brains are not developed to make long-term decisions about what these drugs and surgeries do to their bodies,” Wes Allen, a House sponsor of the bill, told the Associated Press on Thursday.
The The American Academy of Pediatrics believes Inhibition of puberty and hormone therapy by pediatricians as a way of providing “developmentally appropriate” care for transgender youth.
Legislation also prohibits gender-based surgeries on transgender youth, although this is no longer a standard practice among physicians and prohibits teachers and other school officials from protecting a student’s gender identity from their parent or guardian.
If Ivy signs the law, Alabama will become the third state to block gender care. Minor and The first imposed imprisonment. Lawmakers could overcome the veto by a simple majority.
Arkansas approved the ban on gender care last year after lawmakers overturned Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s veto – which he called the law as “enormous pressure from the government” – but a federal court blocked the law. Tennessee lawmakers also passed a law last year banning hormone treatment before puberty, though doctors do not prescribe such treatment until children begin puberty.
American Civil Liberties Union, Alabama ACLU, Lambda Legal, and Transgender Law Center Vowed Thursday to file Alabama proposal in court if it becomes law.
“The Alabama Legislature and Governor Kay Ivy need to consider the time and resources they put into, not to mention the spot on discrimination, which often means lost opportunities and investments, and ask ourselves if it’s really worth it to take care of children’s health because we are ready to do it.” “Invest in protecting transgender young people, their families and doctors in Alabama,” said Carl Charles, Senior Lawyer at Lambda Legal.
Lawmakers also passed a separate bill Thursday banning transgender students from using bathrooms or dressing rooms that match their gender identity. Legislation was changed at the last minute to include the “Do Not Be Gay” version of Florida law, and he is now returning home for final approval.
Context: The Alabama bill is being passed amid escalating GOP efforts to take measures to restrict access to health care, participation in school sports, and transgender youth in state homes.
ACLU Identified taxes 19 states that have proposed restricting access to health care for transgender youth, though some proposals since Failed.
In Idaho, a bill that also prohibits transgender child-centered care makes it a crime that passed outside the House last month but was blocked by Republican Senate leaders who said the policy “undermines parental rights.”
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in February Ordered the State Child Welfare Agency to investigate the parents who were wanted Gender care after Republican lawmakers in that state introduced laws banning pubertal blockers and hormone therapy but failed to pass them. A Texas judge barred the state from implementing the policy last month, though Attorney General Ken Paxton Noted that he intends to do so Anyway, pending an appeal.
What the federal government says: U.S. Department of Justice Send a letter State Attorneys last week highlighted federal constitutional and regulatory protections for transgender youth, including those seeking gender care.
“Raising deliberate discriminatory barriers to prevent individuals from taking care of gender evidence involves numerous federal legal safeguards,” wrote Kristen Clark, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. “State laws and policies that prevent parents or guardians from following the advice of a healthcare professional about what may be medically necessary or otherwise appropriate care for transgender minors may violate the rights enshrined in both the Equal Protection Act and the Fourteenth Amendment. . ”
