West Virginia’s legislature passed a bill Friday banning “transgender” surgical procedures and drugs being prescribed to children.
The bill, which passed the state Senate 30-2, is headed to Gov. Jim Justice’s (R) desk for a signature. However, Justice has not taken a public stance on the bill.
The House version of the bill passed 84-10.
If Justice signs the bill, West Virginia will join a growing number of states halting the irreversible, medically dubious treatment for children.
West Virginia’s bill would ban persons under the age of 18 from receiving puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and genital mutilation surgeries.
However, the bill does make significant exceptions for children to receive medical interventions if they are at risk for suicide. Children who are approved to receive the interventions are required to have a diagnosis of severe gender dysphoria from at least two mental health or medical providers.
Children allowed to receive the drugs must receive the lowest possible dosage, so as to “treat the psychiatric condition and not for purposes of gender alteration.” Read more…
