Republicans have introduced a bill in Illinois that would make it illegal for doctors to help any transgender under the age of 18 with their transition.
HB 3515, titled the “Youth Health Protection Act,” would make it against the law for a doctor to prescribe or provide puberty blockers or hormones, or recommend gender confirmation surgery to minors, regardless of whether the youth has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria or the doctor has determined that transition-related care is the best treatment for the individual patient.
Any doctor who recommended such treatments for a minor would be subject to discipline at the hands of their licensing entity or disciplinary review board, which could potentially threaten to take away the doctor’s license to practice for “unprofessional conduct.”
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Morrison (R-Palatine), would also prohibit doctors or mental health providers from even referring children under the age of 18 to any physician that specifically deals with or provides “chemical or surgical interventions” to treat gender dysphoria.
The proposed legislation makes no mention of penalties for parents or guardians of transgender youth, although parents would be consulted and would have to give their consent in order for any minor patient to begin taking puberty blockers or undergo a course of hormone therapy or surgery.
Morrison told NPR Illinois that he proposed the bill because he believes that the effect of puberty blockers or hormones could be harmful if administered to youth and worries that youth may later regret their decision to become “permanently sterile.”
“We don’t have the studies that show what the effects are on children, and then, in the case of so with the case of these drugs that are being administered, there are permanent effects, permanent, irreversible effect that I’m concerned about,” he said. “And then of course, with surgery that’s permanent and irreversible.”
He also insisted his bill is not discriminatory, noting: “The General Assembly, on a on a host of issues, has made the determination that young people are not old enough to make these sorts of permanent, life-altering decisions.”
Last week, transgender advocates held a rally opposing Morrison’s bill, noting that he previously sponsored an unsuccessful measure that would have barred transgender students from using restrooms or locker rooms that match their gender identity. Statewide LGBTQ organization Equality Illinois also announced its opposition to the bill.
“Medical and mental professionals have dedicated their entire professional career to serving the best interest of all of their patients. And they should be able to provides essential medical services to all of their patients,” Myles Brady Davis, the communications manager for Equality Illinois, said in a statement. “HB 3515 is a harmful and mean-spirited bill that would take away healthcare options from Illinois children simply because of their identity. This bill is contrary to our values in Illinois: fairness, dignity, and compassion.”
The bill has been referred to the Human Services Committee’s Informed Consent subcommittee, and will receive a committee hearing on Mar. 27.
The Biden administration clarified its stance on gender-affirming care for minors after previously angering LGBTQ advocacy groups for appearing to support a ban on surgical interventions.
Earlier this month, a White House spokesperson told the independent news outlet The 19th that the administration believed that surgical procedures undertaken to align a person's physical appearance with their gender identity "should be limited to adults."
That spokesperson appeared to distinguish between opposing surgical interventions for minors while still opposing state-level bans for gender-affirming treatments, like puberty blockers and hormone therapy, arguing that the decision to pursue such treatments should be made by minors' parents in consultation with doctors.
A federal judge struck down several administrative rules and part of a law placing restrictions on access to gender-affirming care for both minors and adults, declaring them to be unconstitutional.
On Tuesday, June 11, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, issued an order permanently blocking Florida state officials from enforcing a ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender youth.
Florida is currently one of 25 states with such restrictions in place.
Hinkle's ruling also blocks Florida officials from enforcing rules approved by the Florida Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine in order to comply with the law.
The Texas Supreme Court upheld a state law prohibiting doctors from prescribing gender-affirming care to transgender minors, placing unique restrictions on the rights of parents with transgender children.
Justice Rebeca Azipuru Huddle, writing on behalf of the 8-1 majority, found that while "fit parents" have a right to raise their children without government interference, that right is not absolute.
The ban on gender-affirming care was approved by Texas lawmakers on a largely party-line vote, with Republicans pushing for the restrictions.
Under the law, doctors are prohibited from prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapy to youth suffering from gender dysphoria. Doctors who violate the law are subject to disciplinary action and will have their medical license revoked by the Texas Medical Board.
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
You must be logged in to post a comment.