Montana Gov. Signs Bill Banning Transgender Surgeries for Children

Montana Governor Signs Bill Restricting Transgender Procedures for Minors

Montana’s Republican Governor, Greg Gianforte, has signed a bill that restricts transgender procedures for minors. The “Youth Health Protection Act” prohibits certain medical and surgical procedures, including puberty blockers, for children struggling with gender dysphoria.

The legislation aims to protect minors from “any form of pressure to receive harmful, experimental puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones and to undergo irreversible, life-altering surgical procedures” before they reach adulthood.

Gianforte’s press secretary, Kaitlin Price, said in a statement that the governor is “committed to protecting Montana children from invasive medical treatments that can permanently alter their healthy, developing bodies.”

The bill is set to become law on October 1, adding Montana to a growing list of around a dozen states that have passed similar laws protecting minors from potentially life-altering procedures framed by their supporters as “gender-affirming care.”

Opponents Vow Legal Action

However, opponents of the measure, including Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, have said they will take legal action against the legislation.

They argue that gender-affirming care is a critical part of helping transgender adolescents succeed in school and establish healthy relationships with their friends and family.

What You Need to Know About the “Youth Health Protection Act”

• The bill prohibits certain medical and surgical procedures for children struggling with gender dysphoria.
• It aims to protect minors from “any form of pressure to receive harmful, experimental puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones and to undergo irreversible, life-altering surgical procedures” before they reach adulthood.
• Public funds cannot be used to pay for hormone blockers, cross-sex hormones, or surgeries.
• The bill is set to become law on October 1, adding Montana to a growing list of around a dozen states that have passed similar laws protecting minors from potentially life-altering procedures framed by their supporters as “gender-affirming care.”

While the debate around transgender procedures for minors continues, it’s clear that this legislation has sparked controversy and legal action. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.