Re: Alabama passes bill making some transgender healthcare a felony

"BeamMeUpScotty" <[email protected]> wrote in message 
news:[email protected]...
> On 4/9/22 3:57 PM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:
>> 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.
>>
>>
> According to Democrats there is no such thing as Transgender health
> care. They are the same as anyone else, so they deserve the same health
> care as everyone else.

Which means no transitioning medical procedures.... cool.