Georgia and Iowa have become the latest states to ban child sex changes as Republicans across the country move to stop the surge in demand for what they argue is a form of child mutilation.
Georgia Senate Bill 140 was approved by Governor Brian Kemp on Thursday. It will ban certain procedures that treat gender dysphoria in minors in licensed hospitals or other healthcare facilities.
Conservative activists, including Moms for America president Kimberly Fletcher who founded the group, celebrated the news in a press release.
“We are happy that policymakers in America have taken an honest look at what these procedures could cause to children. The new Georgia law will provide legal protections for children in Georgia.”
While the Georgia bill and other similar bills are a significant turning point, there are many things to be done. We must make changes.
This week, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed bill SF538. The bill states that doctors “shall not knowingly engage in or cause any [treatments] with an intent to alter the appearance of, affirm or perceive the gender of the Minor’s sexuality, if such appearance is inconsistent or inconsistent with the Minor’s sex.”
As well as the child sex change legislation, Reynolds also signed SF482, a law preventing transgender-identifying students from using the opposite sex’s public school bathrooms.
Matt Sharp is Senior Counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom and released a statement celebrating the passage of the Iowa law.
It is hurtful for children and people to deny that we are males and females.
We commend Gov. Reynolds and the Iowa Legislature are commended for standing up to truth and passing these important protections for children.
Conservatives believe the rise in child sex demand in the United States is due to parental pressure. Reuters released a report late last year that estimated that almost 42,000 U.S. children will be diagnosed in 2021 with gender dysphoria. This is nearly triple the 2017 figure.
Child sex laws are criticized by those who claim they deny “gender-affirming care” to the most vulnerable, but polling data has shown that the public strongly opposes it.
These legislations have been passed in Georgia and Iowa, respectively. They are following in the footsteps of Mississippi, Florida, and Tennessee.
