Tennessee... penalizing adults who help minors receive gender-affirming care

[Jessica_Rose]

Tennessee lawmakers OK bill penalizing adults who help minors receive gender-affirming care

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/tennessee-lawmakers-ok-bill-penalizing-adults-who-help-minors-receive-gender-affirming-care/ar-AA1nFVNT?ocid=windirect&cvid=051d8f393abf49eea674ee15b04963f3&ei=38

Story by KIMBERLEE KRUESI (25 April 2024)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's GOP-controlled Statehouse on Thursday gave their final approval to legislation penalizing adults who help minors receive gender-affirming care without parental consent, clearing the way for the first-in-the-nation proposal to be sent to Gov. Bill Lee's desk for his signature.

Lee, a Republican, hasn't publicly commented on either bill, but supporters are confident he will sign them into law. Lee eagerly approved a sweeping abortion ban and a ban on gender-affirming care for children. He has also never issued a veto during his time as governor.

While the Republican supermajority touted the proposed statutes as necessary to protect parental rights, critics warned about the possible broad application. Violations could range from talking to an adolescent about a website on where to find care to helping that young person travel to another state with looser restrictions on gender-affirming care services.

"Tennessee lawmakers are on the verge of enacting more than twice as many anti-LGBTQ+ laws as any other state, a staggering assault on their own constituents," Cathryn Oakley, senior director of legal policy at the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement.