Alabama Moves to Ban Transgender Surgeries, Hormone Blockers for Children
State take key step in protecting children from trans medical intervention
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Republicans in Alabama took a significant step in moving to protect children from transgender surgeries and hormone blockers on Thursday after senators approved a bill seeking to criminalize medical professionals who advise or prescribe extreme transgender medical intervention.
Republican Sen. Shay Shelnutt’s bill, named the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, looks to “make it a felony for doctors and other medical providers to prescribe hormone blockers or surgeries for minors seeking to treat gender dysphoria," The Washington Times reported.
“I just don’t think, and others don’t think, that kids should be given experimental drugs or surgeries that could have irreversible consequences for the rest of their life," Sen. Shelnutt said.
“Kids are not fully developed until later in life,” the Republican added.
“I think we can all agree that kids aren’t capable of making certain decisions until certain ages.
"And so we want to just stop these procedures from happening in Alabama.”
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The bill is soon headed to Alabama’s House of Representatives after it overwhelmingly passed in the state Senate.
Alabama’s Republican Governor Kay Ivey has not yet indicated she will sign the bill if it passed in the house.
Conservatives praised Ivey when she signed a robust pro-life bill banning nearly all elective abortions within the state.
The legislation made it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage in a woman's pregnancy was voted 74-3 for by the Republican-dominated House of Representatives.
Republican Rep. Wes Allen expressed outrage that children are prescribed hormone blockers within the state.
“I was shocked when I found out doctors in Alabama were prescribing these types of drugs to children,” Allen said in a statement, the Times noted.
“This is something you hear about happening in California or New York, but it is happening right here in Alabama, and it’s time we put a stop to that practice.”
Today, I signed into law the Alabama Human Life Protection Act. To the bill’s many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious & that every life is a sacred gift from God. https://t.co/DwKJyAjSs8 pic.twitter.com/PIUQip6nmw
— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) May 15, 2019
Three Female Students Sue to Stop Transgender Athletes From Competing In Girls’ Sports
— Neon Nettle (@NeonNettle) February 12, 2020
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Children receiving hormone blockers to delay puberty could affect their fertility, according to Mayo Clinic’s website.
“In those identified as male at birth, GnRH analogues decrease the growth of facial and body hair, prevent voice deepening, and limit the growth of genitalia,” the clinic’s site notes.
It also adds “treatment limits or stops breast development and delays or stops menstruation” for biological females.
“If children with male genitalia begin using GnRH analogues early in puberty, they might not develop enough penile and scrotal skin for certain gender confirmation genital surgical procedures, such as penile inversion vaginoplasty,” the Mayo Clinic continued.
Last year, Sen. Ted Cruz vowed to protect children and youths from being rushed into life-altering "transgender” medical procedures.
The Senator's remarks came following the investigation into a case involving the sex change procedure of a 7-year-old boy that is due to go ahead, against the father's wishes.
“A 7-year-old child doesn’t have the maturity to make profound decisions like this,” Cruz said, referring to the controversy.
“The state of Texas should protect this child’s right to choose—as an informed, mature person—and not be used as a pawn in a left-wing political agenda,” he said.
