The Georgia Senate has approved a law banning various forms of gender-affirming care for those under 18.
On Monday, all Republicans supported Senate Bill 140 with a vote of 33 to 22. The vote was part of a national conservative campaign to ban drag shows, gender-affirming care, and transgender athletes.
The bill will prohibit most gender-confirming procedures and hormone replacement therapy for those under 18, which will now be debated in the House.
Similar to laws passed in several other states, it would still permit doctors to prescribe medication to prevent puberty.
“This is simply saying this is a pause, and we’re asking that children be 18 years old before they make this decision that will alter their lives forever,” said Sen. Carden Summers.
“I didn’t choose this story,” said Sen. Sally Harrell, who has a transgender son. “But I did choose to be a mom. And when you choose to be a parent, the most important thing to do is to love your child.”
“Doctors and mental health professionals, they shouldn’t be in a hurry to treat with hormones and surgery, but banning them outright is not the answer either,” Harrell said.
However, opponents of the law cautioned that transgender children already have a higher risk of self-harm or suicide and that the message the bill delivers could exacerbate this risk.
“If this bill passes, if this bill becomes a law, we know that this bill actually may be deadly,” said Sen. Kim Jackson. “I know there have been some concerns about children having procedures that may be irreversible. But you know, the most irreversible thing is suicide.”
“We’ve adjusted and refined this bill until I think we’ve threaded the needle and we made a good bill,” Watson said.
Discover more from Baller Alert
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
