Over the last week, Republicans have made significant strides to put a damper on “gender-affirming care” across the country.
On February 1st, former President Donald Trump released a video on his website and Rumble calling the “gender insanity being pushed on our children” an “act of child abuse.” He continued to say he will stop the “chemical, physical, and emotional mutilation of our youth” if elected, by encouraging legislation that will ban hospitals from administering “gender-affirming care” for children in all states, and declare hospitals that continue the practice unsafe, thus open to federal action.
This isn’t a new stance for the former president, but reactions from conservatives have nonetheless been positive. The video on Twitter amassed 4.5k likes and 1.4k retweets after being reposted by a Trump-adjacent account called @TrumpWarRoom.
Just a few days earlier on January 28th, Utah became the first state in the U.S. to ban “gender-affirming care” for minors when “S.B. 16 Transgender Medical Treatments and Procedures Amendments” was signed by Governor Spencer Cox.
Summarized, the bill:
- Has updated requirements for any hospital that hopes to give “gender-affirming care” to adults.
- Bans “gender-affirming care” for all citizens under the age of 18.
- Bans “gender-affirming care” for any individuals who did not receive a gender dysphoria diagnosis before the bill comes into effect.
- Specifies medical malpractice action that may be used against “gender-affirming care.”
Prominent LGB activist group “Gays Against Groomers” made a statement on Twitter, writing, “HUGE WIN! So proud to see Utah take bold action to protect minors from sterilization and mutilation.”
(READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Minnesota High School Gives Students Progressive Topics For Assignments)
(READ MORE: Bill Banning ‘Woke’ Flags From U.S. Embassies Back on the Table)
Reactions from other sides of the platform have been less than appreciative. One particularly angered user tweeted, “utah banned gender affirming care for trans youth yesterday shut up shut up shut up.” Another tweeted, “Let’s start calling these anti-trans health care laws what they are: state violence.”
Similar legislation is currently in the works in Tennessee. SB 0001 is a state Senate resolution that aims to ban healthcare professionals, establishments, and facilities from “enabling a minor to identify with, or live as” a gender inconsistent with the child’s anatomy and genetics. It also aims to ban the treatment of minors for a discontinuity between their sex and asserted identity.
The referenced treatments are defined as both substance (hormones and other transition drugs) and surgery. Any “gender-affirming care” procedures that start before July 1st, 2023 will be given a grace period until they finish. After that date, the law will go fully into effect.
As of publishing time, the most recent action on the Tennessee bill has been the addition of a calendar date for the Senate Judiciary Committee to review the bill.
Virginia also moved on a “gender-affirming care” ban for minors. However, it was less successful. “SB 960 Youth Health Protection Act” was “passed by indefinitely” by the state Education and Health committee. While this doesn’t guarantee a dead bill, it means that it won’t be picked up again until specifically called for by the legislature.
