Tennessee Bans Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth
American Civil Liberties UnionMar 02, 2023
On Thursday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill banning doctors from performing transgender surgical and hormonal treatment on children, with doctors facing fines of up to $25k per procedure if in violation.
The bill passed 77-16 in the GOP-controlled House late last month. The medical restrictions include an exception for patients who begin treatment before the bill takes effect on July 1. However, the bill stipulates that treatments must end by March 31, 2024.
Tennessee Republicans have been clear about their disdain for transgender youth and the critical gender-affirming care they require. This is discriminatory and unconstitutional, which is why rights groups can and will challenge it in court so that marginalized children have the same healthcare rights as any other Tennessean.
Not only do gender-reassignment procedures carry many risks, but they're also life-altering and irreversible. Instead of just talking about the ongoing attack on children, Tennessee Republicans have finally, and justifiably, gone on the offensive in the fight against these activist doctors and politicians and their abusive ideology.