Gender-Affirming Care, a Felony?

On August 19, infamous republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene decided to try her hand at doing her job. As to be expected, the congressperson ignored advice from medical professionals by introducing a bill aimed at trans people (and healthcare decisions that surely don’t impact anyone but those individuals and their doctors). Under the legislation, anyone found to be providing gender-affirming care to minors could face a felony—That’s up to 25 years in federal prison.

The bill does not stop there; it also makes teaching gender-affirming care illegal in higher education institutions. This is just the latest in a slew of legislation brought forth that aims to limit or ban gender-affirming care in the United States. The bill currently has 14 co-sponsors, including Colorado’s own Lauren Boebert.

Most medical professionals agree that gender-affirming care is necessary and beneficial to the health of the recipient.

Dr. Michael Suk, an AMA (American Medical Association) board member, states, “The AMA opposes the dangerous intrusion of government into the practice of medicine and the criminalization of healthcare decision-making.”

Dr. Szilagy of the AAP (American Association of Pediatricians) echoes these sentiments, stating, “There is a dangerous movement taking place, led by extremists, targeting youth who are receiving gender-affirming care… ”

Greene received praise for her appearance on Tucker Carlson’s show, discussing the bill.

“This practice should never happen,” Greene states.

Though, as it stands, it’s unknown whether or not this will truly amount to anything more than a display of transphobia. The bill would need to pass the House and Senate to even have a chance of becoming a law. If that happens, the bill will likely not receive a signature by the president.

Representative Greene says she expects to be a referendum on the republican party, and, as such, every republican should support the bill. Alabama passed similar legislation this year by making gender-affirming care for trans youth punishable by up to 10 years in prison.