Tennessee lawmakers have introduced legislation to outlaw the contentious practice of pediatric medical gender transition in the state.
The Protecting Children from Gender Mutilation Act, which was proposed this week by Tennessee’s Republican majority leaders William Lamberth and Jack Johnson, effectively forbids doctors from prescribing puberty inhibitors, transgender hormones, and conducting gender-related procedures on kids for the purpose of medical transition. It would also empower patients and their families to sue for monetary damages, with the courts imposing a $25,000 fine for each infraction.
“This measure is about safeguarding children,” Johnson explained. “Under no circumstances should kids be allowed to undergo irreversible elective treatments that mutilate bodily parts and impair their reproductive systems. This technique has long-term health consequences that youngsters are incapable of comprehending.”
In October, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) “paused” all gender transition procedures on children in response to a letter from Tennessee State Representatives requesting VUMC administrators to “stop any irreversible gender altering surgery on minor children.”
The reporting of youth gender clinics and “gender-affirming” care, which essentially puts children in charge of deciding the conditions of their own sex transition, has generated national awareness as well as severe ethical questions regarding the drugs supplied and surgeries performed on kids.
None of the groups in the United States who support “gender-affirming” treatment have conducted systematic assessments of the data, but arguably more “progressive” European nations such as Sweden, Finland, and England have. Following a review of the data regarding the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in the treatment of pediatric gender dysphoria, health officials in all three nations have opted to reject the “gender-affirming” strategy, concluding that the costs exceed the benefits.
Florida also adopted a rule last week preventing minors from having gender transition procedures, puberty blockers, or cross-sex medications, making it the first state medical board-enacted ban in the U.S.
“Interfering with or damaging a child’s healthy, normal reproductive organs to modify their look is highly immoral and ethically unacceptable,” Lamberth added. “Tennesseans across our state have called for swift action.”
“With the passing of House Bill 1/Senate Bill 1, Tennessee will safeguard vulnerable children who are unable to offer informed consent for adult decisions they are not prepared to make,” Lamberth continued.
The Protecting Children from Gender Mutilation Act would also provide a private right of action, allowing a minor or a minor’s parent to claim for damages if they were injured as a result of medical transition. Additionally, if a parent assisted in their child’s medical transition, it would be possible for the child to file a civil claim against that parent.
The measure would empower courts to levy a $25,000 fine per violation and the state attorney general to file a lawsuit against a healthcare practitioner who intentionally violated the law within 20 years of the violation. The proposed measure would force the state attorney general to create a system for reporting legal infractions.
The measure includes an exemption for infants born with chromosomal abnormalities or congenital problems that result in developing sex conditions to receive hormones and/or procedures. The 113th Tennessee General Assembly will meet on January 10, 2023.
One is a juvenile until their 18th birthday, THEN they can consider turning queer!
When Bruce Jenner transitioned he had had a lifetime to make that decision. There are many reports about kids and adults who transitioned and now wish that they had not. This is irreversible. It is not like people who experiment with homosexuality who can return to the straight life if they so desire – their bodies are still the same. Anne Heche – was Ellen DeGenerates significant other for years. A lesbian – said to have been “born that way”. Then she left DeGenerate married a man – had kids and raised a family. If she was “born that way” – What changed? Fads come and go and children are the most susceptible to fads – always seeking to be “validated”. One of the latest fads is body mutilation – not just with transgenders but with things like those ear guages – bodies covered in tattoos – piercings – you can see people with metal studs in the skulls – they look like what used to be called “Circus Geeks”. This is a fad, they will grow older and have to live with what they have done to themselves for a long time. They will be scaring the hell out of the kids in their families, nephews, nieces, grandchildren. They have inflicted a very lonely future on themselves and employment will be very difficult. Of course all of this will be everyone else’s fault.
Totally agree with your statement.
You nailed it!
We’ve got decades of data on kids that go through this gender confusion. Way over 90% grow out of it. It was simply a phase they went through. Going down the road of permanently mutilating kids going through this phase ruins these lives. There is no getting around that fact.
I think this is a good step in the right direction to stop this criminal line of conduct committed on our children. What would these permanently altered children be like when they reach legal age? Certainly we couldn’t let them be our leaders so why are these people doing this for. Where are the responsible adults when this is going on?
Children under age 18 are not considered mature enough to vote, drink, smoke, be employed, or enter into legal contracts. So why would you encourage them to get irreversible mutilations. Stupid leftist morons are just proving once again liberalism is a mental disorder.
My exact thoughts
Looking to the future or to those who would still try to circumvent this bill if it passes. Since their bill is still in the process of going through the legislature, perhaps the two authors could still be able to add these two words in front of irreversible to their bill – reversible or….
This is a smart move. NO CHILD should be subjected to such a radical surgery, especially since they may not want to change their body in such a drastic way. Children always want to be something they’re not (a boy, a dog, a cat, a monkey, etc.) are we going to do surgery on them????
This entire business strikes me as lunatic in the extreme.
Whether this is a calculated distraction from other monstrosities that are either planned or even under way but under the radar, I don’t know, but children by definition do not have the capacity to see themselves well into their futures. Adults, or PARENTS, as we sometimes call them (!!) should know better and MUST be prepared to stand up and defend ALL our CHILDREN from the crazies who are deliberately encouraging MUTILATION of one form or another.
This can not be permitted to be misrepresented as being Leftist or Anything’ist – this is simply EVIL no matter who is promoting it.