In a time when conservative rhetoric surrounding keeping trans girls off of girls’ sports teams dominates discussions about trans rights and equality, Republicans are pushing dangerous health care bills aiming to keep trans youth from accessing gender-affirming, safe, age-appropriate care. Gender-affirming care is lifesaving medical care, not new or experimental medical science, and not without standards. No young people (or adults, for that matter) are getting prescriptions or surgeries on a whim.
Even still, a number of state lawmakers have stirred hysteria over the idea that trans youth accessing relevant health care is somehow dangerous or irreversible. In Ohio, for example, Republican state Reps. Gary Click and Diane Grendell have sponsored HB 454, misleadingly titled the “Save Adolescents from Experiment” (SAFE Act), as reported by Public News Service. In short, the bill would bar anyone under 18 from accessing potentially lifesaving gender-affirming care.
The bill targets medical professionals both in the public and private sectors. The measure points out that “school nurses, counselors, teachers, principals” and other state officials would be required to inform parents or guardians if a minor talked to them about gender dysphoria. This essentially compels folks who could be trustworthy confidants in a minor’s life to turn around and “out” them to parents or guardians, which could in turn lead to abuse or instability at home.
The bill would also stop insurance, including Medicaid, from covering any procedure or therapy related to gender affirmation for people under 18.
If this bill—and especially the name of it—sounds familiar, that’s likely because we’ve covered similar efforts here at Daily Kos. Some measures have actually passed, like in Arkansas, but are paused pending legal challenges. In the bigger picture, conservatives have been pushing major money into getting these anti-trans policies and bills into state legislatures.
Click got a lot wrong in his recent testimony. According to local outlet WCPO, he said gender affirmation therapy is a practice based on “intimidation, fear, manipulation, and isolation” and suggested it is a popular practice because it's a way for providers to make money. Obviously, this isn’t the case, but it’s notable his description of gender-affirming therapy sounds a whole lot like conversion therapy, which does make providers big money and does hinge on manipulating, isolating, and terrifying young queer people.
He also asserted that the root of gender dysphoria is actually due to “anxiety, depression, suicidal ideations, autism, schizophrenia, low self-esteem, bullying” and other factors, including a history of sexual abuse.
Uneducated, hateful people shouldn’t be in office. Period.
This bill, like others that have tried to keep trans youth from health care, are not backed by legitimate, scientific, peer-reviewed research. In fact, major medical academies and organizations (like the American Academy of Pediatrics) have explicitly said gender-affirming health care is good for trans people, including trans youth. Studies back the (obvious) point that affirming a trans person’s gender helps them feel happier and supported.
This isn’t rocket science. But Republicans are happy to hype up hysteria and get uneducated people confused and riled up—hypotheticals about trans kids getting major surgery, for example, frighten parents who aren’t familiar with the actual (lengthy) and slow process of gender-affirming care, and the various considerations and timelines. Republicans act like first-graders are going to write out their own hormone therapy prescriptions, but if we step back and use an ounce of logic, we know that’s not the case, and never has been.
Let’s let trans youth make personal health decisions with medical professionals who are well-informed, licensed experts in the appropriate subspecialties. Let’s keep Republican talking heads out of it.