National firestorm on horizon as states consider criminalizing transgender treatments for youths

A polarizing debate is happening around the nation as lawmakers in eight states have introduced bills in recent weeks seeking to restrict transition-related treatment for transgender youth.

Proponents say the measures protect minors from medical changes they may regret as adults, while opponents say the bills prevent doctors from following health care guidelines approved by organizations such as the American Medical Association.

The South Dakota House passed its version of the bill last week, which would impose a one-year jail sentence and a maximum fine of $2,000 on doctors who provide hormone replacement therapy, puberty blockers and gender confirmation surgery to children younger than 16 years old.

Chase Strangio, ACLU Deputy Director for Transgender Justice, said transgender rights advocates are geared up for a fight against HB 1057 and similar measures in Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, South Carolina and Florida.

"There have been policy meetings among groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom and The Heritage Foundation, who have long had a mission of pushing anti-LGBTQ policies, to push two types of bills this year," Strangio said. "One being the medical care bans and the other being bans on trans athletes participating in sports. So it's a coordinated effort that's coming from national groups."