Georgia Senate advances bill banning transition care for trans minors

Georgia Senate Republicans accredited a invoice Monday evening to ban sure transgender therapies for minors.

Why it issues: If it passes the state Home, the laws would prohibit medical professionals in Georgia from administering “irreversible procedures or therapies” for transgender minors, together with hormone blockers and gender-affirming surgical procedure.

The large image: The invoice is a part of a nationwide development of Republican state lawmakers passing restrictions on gender-affirming care, Axios’ Oriana Gonzalez studies.

• Particular person states have began enacting bans on gender-affirming look after trans youth in 2023, and greater than 100 anti-trans well being care payments have been launched in state legislatures thus far, in accordance with information from the American Civil Liberties Union.

What they’re saying: The sponsor, State Sen. Carden Summers (R-Cordele) mentioned the invoice, “is just saying: it is a pause and we’re asking for the kids to be 18 years or older earlier than they make this resolution that can alter their lives endlessly.”

• A supporter, State Sen. Ben Watson (R-Savannah) identified puberty blockers will stay authorized and mentioned they’d “threaded the needle” with the invoice after a lot analysis.

The opposite aspect: State Sen. Sally Harrell (D-Atlanta), who has a transgender baby, spoke concerning the want for different assist for these kids, together with psychotherapeutic help. “We can not take away therapy for these youngsters with out having one thing else in place. And we do not have anything in place,” she mentioned.

• “None of us know a lot about this topic. And we do not know what these youngsters are going by way of. If this invoice passes…some determined youngsters are going to really feel extra determined,” she mentioned.

Menace stage: “When younger folks do not obtain the gender-affirming care that they want, they die,” mentioned State Sen. Kim Jackson (D-Stone Mountain).

By the numbers: Practically one in 5 transgender minors tried suicide prior to now yr, in accordance with a 2022 survey by the Trevor Undertaking.

• 93% of transgender youth surveyed mentioned they’ve frightened about being denied entry to gender-affirming medical care attributable to state or native legal guidelines.

Flashback: The Georgia legislature final yr handed a invoice that paved the best way to ban transgender youth from taking part in sports activities that match with their gender identification.