(The Center Square) – There is immediate pushback to a proposal at the Wisconsin Capitol that would ban sex change surgeries and gender-affirming care for children.
The Wisconsin Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus condemned the plan from a handful of Republicans, calling it “cruel.”
“Once again, Republicans are interfering with private medical decisions that belong in the hands of patients and their doctors – not politicians. Gender-affirming care reduces gender dysphoria and helps people live healthy and authentic lives,” caucus members said in an open letter.
The legislation would ban any surgery that results in sterilization, a mastectomy, puberty blocking drugs and other hormone treatments for children.
Rep. Scott Allen, R-Waukesha, is the lead sponsor of the bill, which he is calling the Help Not Harm Act.
“There are too many studies that show the harm of these procedures, and there are too many stories of young people regretting their transition later. We need to help minors by giving them the inherent blessing of time,” Allen said. “This is why the state bans minors from voting, joining the military, getting a tattoo, signing a contract or buying alcohol or tobacco. “Why should the state depart from this prudent policy when it comes to minors engaging in untested, harmful and irreversible procedures?”
The LGBTQ+ Caucus counters that doctors and medical groups support gender-affirming care.
“Every major medical organization – including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Psychological Association – attests that gender-affirming care is safe, medically necessary, and saves lives,” the caucus members said. “We remain committed to protecting our LGBTQ+ youth in Wisconsin and will continue to be a voice for the LGBTQ+ community throughout our state. We will continue to fight to ensure that this bill – and any future legislation that harms LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites – will never become law in Wisconsin.”
