Blue states offer refuge for child transgender surgeries and drugs.

Blue States Allowing Children to Receive Transgender Surgeries and Drugs Without Parental Consent

Several blue states have passed laws allowing children to receive transgender surgeries and drugs, often without parental knowledge or consent. Many of these bills are designed to allow children to pursue such medical treatments on their own, require insurance to cover it, and give legal shields to doctors who provide the services.

California and Minnesota Advertise Child Transition Measures as a “Refuge”

Both California and Minnesota have advertised their child transition measures as the states becoming a “refuge” for patients and doctors. However, conservative groups such as Heritage Action for America Executive Director Jessica Anderson argue that these measures strip parents of their right to protect their children and create irreversible physical and psychological harm.

• California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Washington are among the blue states passing bills that strip parents of their right to protect their children.
• Vermont is the latest state to pass such a measure, with Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) signing a bill Wednesday.
• Washington is another recent addition, with Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) signing a measure Tuesday.

Legal Shields for Patients and Doctors

These laws have several legal shields for patients and doctors, such as providing the ability to counter-sue in litigation from another state and noncooperation from government officials in litigation from another state. This means that Vermont and Washington will not arrest or extradite someone for providing or obtaining the drugs or procedures.

Push for Constitutional Amendments in Red States

While these bills exist primarily in heavily blue states, organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union are pushing for constitutional amendments in red states that would have the effect of allowing anyone of any age to access transgender surgeries and drugs without parental consent. The amendments would impose those lax restrictions on states without requiring legislative approval.

Republican-Led States Attempting to Protect Children

Republican-led states are attempting to protect children from these procedures. Eleven states, including Utah, Tennessee, Iowa, and Missouri, have already passed or enacted laws that prevent medical providers from performing and administering dangerous surgeries and drugs, preventing them from experiencing lifelong complications.

It is important to consider the potential physical and psychological harm that these procedures may cause to children. Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, chairman of the medical advocacy group Do No Harm, emphasizes that children “cannot provide informed consent, nor can they truly understand the procedures that they are undergoing.” Instead, he argues that states should be seeking to integrate these children back into their families and provide them with the psychological guidance that they need to overcome the psychological turmoil that almost invariably accompanies gender transition.