US state moves to criminalise medical trans youth treatment sparking fury from LGBTQ+ groups

A bill that aims to criminalise medical procedures for the transgender youth has been passed by Idaho’s House of Representatives.

The bill has sparked outrage from LGBTQ+ groups as it would criminalise medical procedures for trans adolescents that affirm individuals' gender identities including, puberty-blocking medication, vasectomy, hysterectomy, mastectomy and doses of testosterone or oestrogen.

The proposal would also criminalise cases of transgender children travelling to other states to receive treatment.

Following its approval on Tuesday, it will now go to the state’s Republican-controlled Senate and then Republican governor of Idaho, Brad Little, will decide whether to make it a law.

The Bill states: “Whoever knowingly removes or causes, permits, or facilitates the removal of a child from this state for the purpose of facilitating any act prohibited … by this section shall be guilty of a felony.

“Any person convicted of a violation … shall be guilty of a felony and shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not more than life.”

LGBTQ+ groups have raised concerns that, if passed, the new proposal would be detrimental to the mental health and overall well-being of the transgender youth.

Cathryn Oakley, senior counsel for The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ advocacy group in the US, said: “By making it impossible for doctors to provide care for their patients, transgender youth are denied the age-appropriate, best practice, medically necessary, gender-affirming care that a new study just found reduces the risk of moderate or severe depression by 60 percent and suicidality by 73 percent.”

The Bill’s main sponsor is State Representative Bruce Skaug who insists the proposed law is “about protecting children”.

29 other pieces of Republican-backed legislation to curtail healthcare for the transgender youth have been proposed this year across the US.

Democratic Representative Lauren Neocochea said: “Our transgender youth are so incredibly courageous, and I know how stressful it has been for transgender youth and their families as they’ve watched this bill move through this body.

“An Idaho doctor has had to assist three transgender youth related to their suicide attempts since this bill has been introduced. We need to trust those parents and providers to make these deeply personal decisions."