While leftists do everything in their power to promote transgenderism in public schools, there are some politicians who are bucking the tide. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is the first Republican governor in the nation to sign a bill making it illegal for Tennessee medical professionals to prescribe gender-bending hormone treatments to prepubescent children.
Arkansas has an even stricter law on the books protecting all minors from medications as well as sex-change surgery. However, the Republican governor vetoed the law and the state legislators had to come together to override his veto. Other GOP legislatures in various states are considering similar bills. Even so, Tennessee deserves recognition for being the first state to realize that young children don’t have the maturity to make such life-altering decisions.
The move to protect young children from hormone treatments and unnecessary surgery is being portrayed by liberals as “intolerant” and even “anti-gay,” even though the issue has nothing to do with same-sex attraction. However, both science and common sense make it clear the GOP is on the right track. Puberty blockers are known to cause infertility, weight gain, hot flashes, headaches, and problems with bone density.
Anti-androgens, which block the effects of testosterone in a biological male’s body, increases one’s risk of depression and can cause hepatitis, liver injury, diarrhea, hot flashes, and a skin rash. Estrogens can increase the risk of developing dangerous blood clots or even a pulmonary embolism. Sadly, Democrats eager to promote a far-left agenda are all too willing to ignore these and other dangers. Transgender HHS Assistant Secretary Rachel Levine recently claimed that banning minors from having access to transgender drugs and surgeries was a “health equity issue”.
Minors do not have the same rights and responsibilities as adults. They can’t obtain a driver’s license until the age of 16 (in most states), they can’t vote until they are 18, and they can’t buy alcoholic beverages or cigarettes until they are 21. There are reasons for these rules. Science recognizes that the human brain isn’t fully developed until adulthood. Unfortunately, common sense doesn’t seem to apply when the subject changes to transgender surgeries and treatments.
There is a considerable difference between children being able to freely express themselves and getting permanent medical treatments they might not fully understand. But it’s clear that this isn’t about social equality or even “equity” that progressives claim to value so highly. Transgenderism has become a cultural symbol for the left. It isn’t an accident that seemingly all high-profile transgender transitions come from Los Angeles or other progressive strongholds. It’s wrong to force this upon impressionable children.
Hopefully, more GOP-led legislatures will follow the example Tennessee is setting.
