The Tennessee Statehouse recently passed a bill that would prohibit gender-affirmation health care for minors, including those who are currently receiving treatment, by March 2024, USA Today reports.
The bill bans children from taking puberty blockers, hormone therapies, or from undergoing surgical procedures. Anyone in the state who did receive gender transition treatments as a child would be allowed to sue their parents, guardians, and physicians under the legislation.
The bill will become law unless Gov. Bill Lee vetoes it, and although he has not said whether or not he will do so, he has expressed that he is "supportive" of the bill's intent.
After the bill's passing, the American Civil Liberties Union announced that it will sue the state if the legislation becomes law.
"All Tennesseans should have access to the health care they need to survive and thrive," said ACLU Tennessee staff attorney Lucas Cameron-Vaughn in a statement. "Gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth is safe, necessary, effective and often life-saving.
"Legislators are risking trans young people's health, wellbeing and safety with this dangerous legislation."
Democrat state Rep. Bo Mitchell also criticized the bill, saying, "It has nothing to do with protecting children from unnecessary medical procedures."
He added that some minors "can get their breast enhancements, their nose jobs, that's OK, but these children can't have any medical procedures?"
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
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