Despite several studies and pediatric medical institutions confirming the life-saving value of gender-affirming care, Republicans are constantly trying to find ways to stop trans youth wanting to access this kind of treatment.
In Michigan, a new low was reached as lawmakers introduced a bill on Tuesday that would redefine child abuse guidelines and seek prison sentences for parents and physicians wanting to help trans minors. Under House Bill 6454, a person could face a maximum life sentence of 25 years if they “knowingly or intentionally consent to, obtain, or assist with a gender transition procedure for a child.”
Given that all transition care would be outlawed, it would effectively force trans minors in Michigan to de-transition.
Additionally, the proposed bill will affect puberty blockers and hormone treatment, as well as any kind of gender-affirming surgeries that “seeks to alter or remove healthy physical or healthy anatomical characteristics or features that are typical for the individual’s biological sex.” Gender-affirming surgeries are extremely uncommon for minors.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Ryan Berman, who according to local newspaper the Michigan Advance, previously tried to ban drag shows in schools, even though there have been no examples of any drag shows taking place in schools in Michigan state.
One of the bill’s co-sponsors, Beau LaFave, told political news site The Hill that gender-affirming services should not be available to youth who are not legally allowed to consent to sex.
“People are abusing these children,” he says. “The idea that we would be making potentially life-altering changes to 11-, 12-, 13-, 14-, 15-year-old kids when it is illegal for them to have sex is insane. I mean, they’re not responsible enough to smoke a cigarette until they’re 21.”
In response to the bill, state LGBTQ rights organization Equality Michigan issued an urgent alert to state residents to voice opposition to the legislation.
“Gender-affirming care is medically necessary and life-saving care for transgender youth,” Executive Director Erin Knott says. “Medical decisions belong to trans youth, their parents, and their doctors.”
Knott continued by calling the bill “reckless.”
Alongside HB6454, some Michigan lawmakers are pushing a concurrent bill, HB6452, that would mandate abstinence only sex education and prohibit discussions of contraception in schools.
