Nebraska Republican Governor Jim Pillen has signed off on a new law that requires trans youth to wait for seven days and undergo a list of requirements in order to receive gender-affirming medical care. This law also bans any form of gender-affirming surgery for anyone under the age of 19. The law was signed off on during a state of emergency within the health department.
Unfortunately, this is just another massive roadblock to a better future for everyone, especially trans youth. At least 85 anti-trans laws have been passed in the U.S. to date, around 22 of them specifically aimed at kids. This law features a few stipulations: Trans youth have to wait seven days before going on HRT or puberty blockers and have to meet with a therapist for 40 hours.
Seven days does not seem like that long of a wait, but when you are dealing with dysphoria, seven days can feel like years. A common method of dealing with trauma and triggers is to avoid exposure to the trigger, but when it is your body that is triggering you—something that you are literally unable to avoid for long periods of time—being told to wait seven days and undertake therapy that is intended to offer a “clinical” view of something that will help is ridiculous.
The fact that this is happening to trans minors makes it morally repugnant. Youth is a very difficult time, and being trans is difficult because of unsupportive bigots, both those who make living day to day a game of survival and those who create frivolous laws that are created solely to make life harder.
Grant Friedman, a member of the Nebraska ACLU, stated rightfully, “These are decisions to be made between patients, parents, and providers.” The state has no business in policing the identities of the citizens.
