Alabama passes bill making some transgender healthcare a felony

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/alabama-lawmakers-pass-bill-
criminalizing-transgender-healthcare-2022-04-07/

April 7 (Reuters) - Alabama lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday that would 
criminalize gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth, with a 
threat of 10 years in prison for medical providers.

The legislation, passed 66-28 by the state's House of Representatives on 
the last day of the legislative session, is the latest in a flurry of 
measures in Republican-led states dealing with transgender youth.

The American Civil Liberties Union called it the first bill of its kind to 
make healthcare for transgender youth a felony and said it would challenge 
the bill in court if Republican Governor Kay Ivey signed it into law.

The bill would make it a felony punishable with up to 10 years in prison 
to provide medical care including hormone treatment, puberty blockers and 
gender reassignment surgery to minors.

Democrats in the minority tried to fight the bill in part by arguing it 
contradicted Republican principles on the role of government.

"This is not small government; this is not a conservative bill," 
Democratic Representative Neil Rafferty told the chamber.

But Republican Representative Wes Allen likened the initiative to laws 
that prevent minors from getting tattoos or buying nicotine products.

"We make decisions in this body all the time that are to protect children 
from making decisions that could permanently harm them," Allen said.

Ivey has not said whether she would sign the bill, but last year she 
signed one banning transgender athletes from school sports. Ivey's office 
did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The bill would also compel school personnel to disclose to the parent or 
legal guardian that a "minor's perception of his or her gender or sex is 
inconsistent with the minor's sex."

Last week, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed a bill banning irreversible 
gender reassignment surgery for minors. read more

Mainstream medical and mental health professionals say gender-affirming 
care saves lives by reducing the risk of depression and suicide. Gender-
reassignment surgery for people under 18 is extremely rare and would take 
place only after years of treatment in cases where the patient's wishes 
are unwavering, according to medical experts.

The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly opposed the bill and urged 
Ivey to veto it.

"This legislation targets vulnerable young people and puts them at great 
risk of physical and mental harm," Mark Del Monte, the academy's chief 
executive, said in a statement. "Criminalizing evidence-based, medically 
necessary services is dangerous."

The Alabama Senate has also passed a bill that would require students in 
public schools to use bathrooms or changing rooms that match the gender on 
their original birth certificates. An amendment was attached to the bill, 
which now has to go back to the House for a vote, prohibiting classroom 
discussion on sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grades.

Transgender rights have emerged as one of the issues at the forefront in 
the culture wars ahead of the November mid-term congressional elections. 
Lawmakers have introduced hundreds of bills across state legislatures, the 
majority of them dealing with trans youth.

Many Republicans and conservative activists promote the laws as safeguards 
for children and parental rights. Opponents, including Democrats and 
LGBTQ+ organizations, say the legislation is harmful, unnecessary and 
unfairly targeting vulnerable and underrepresented communities.

Interferes with gay recruiting efforts too.  Gays are made, not born.


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