Ga. Senate advances bills to restrict gender-affirming care

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/ga-senate-advances-bills-to-restrict-gender-affirming-care/ar-AA1AdR6S?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=a6bba18cc765400aa4042fc9c36e4722&ei=132

Story by The Associated Press (4 March 2025)

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's Senate passed two bills Monday that would ban most gender-affirming care for minors and people incarcerated in state prisons, mirroring moves by Republicans across states and a handful of executive orders by President Donald Trump targeting transgender people.

The chamber voted 34-19 for a bill that would ban puberty blockers and most gender-affirming care for people under 18, including those already undergoing treatment. Georgia lawmakers in 2023 banned most gender-affirming surgeries and hormone replacement therapies for transgender minors unless they were already receiving treatment. The law lets doctors prescribe puberty blockers.

"You're asking (minors) to make changes that will have changes to the rest of their lives," bill sponsor Republican Sen. Ben Watson, of Savannah, said Monday. "It is not a fair decision to them. It is not a fair decision to the parents."

A second bill sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Randy Robertson passed 37-15 and would ban most gender-affirming care for people incarcerated in state prisons.

Last month, the chamber passed bills to ban transgender people from playing in school sports and cut off public funding for gender-affirming care for adults. The four bills will now head to the House for debate.

Opponents said Republicans are playing politics by targeting transgender people and that lawmakers should focus on helping Georgians with more pressing issues such as housing and healthcare. They say both bills infringe on the rights of transgender people and their families to make decisions about gender-affirming care.

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on March 04, 2025, 09:05:10 AM"You're asking (minors) to make changes that will have changes to the rest of their lives," bill sponsor Republican Sen. Ben Watson, of Savannah, said

Because everyone knows that minors can just go to the drug store and get what they need without a prescription, parent consent, mental health evaluations, or any other interference by a healthcare professional. And according to Trump, they can get surgery while at school without anyone knowing. Obviously, we need the government to make sure that never happens.

We are governed by a bunch of idiots.