Idaho House Republicans Pass Transgender-Surgery Ban for Minors

Tuesday’s Idaho House of Representatives vote passed a bill that bans transgender surgeries and minors from receiving medications. It is the latest attempt to block these controversial treatments.

“The Vulnerable Child Protective Act,” Rep. Bruce Skaug (R.) introduced the legislation. It will now be sent to the state Senate. The legislation proposed Expands A ban currently in place “female genital mutilation,” It is a crime to give cross-sex hormones or puberty blocks to children, or to do surgery on them. “alter the appearance of or affirm the child’s perception of the child’s sex.”

“We do not allow minors to get tattoos, smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, sign legal documents, why would we allow them to make the decision to cut away healthy bodily organs, and open the road to chemical castration at age 12?” Skaug During a hearing before a committee.

Republican states across the nation are pushing for similar bans against transgender treatments. Florida’s Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine have banned transgender surgeries and hormone treatment for minors. Being The first state to prohibit the practice was through an administrative process.

Idaho has Democratic representatives Claim that the bill was inconsistent with the GOP’s defense of parental rights, alluding to topics such as vaccines and sex education. The bill’s supporters argued that the bill has far more to do with parental choice.

“It’s not that we’re being selective,” said Rep. Julianne Young (R.). “What it comes down to for me, is determining what are the appropriate bounds and limits of that parental authority.”

The state Senate is yet to pass the bill. The Associated Press reported that a similar bill failed to pass the upper chamber last year. reported.