Christie supports parental consent for transgender operations on minors.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Supports Transgender Procedures for Minors with Parental Consent

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a declared candidate for the 2024 GOP nomination, believes that transgender procedures on minors should be allowed as long as a parent consents.

During his tenure as governor, Christie signed a law that allowed self-identifying transgender minors to use bathrooms according to their gender identity. This decision came amidst a national debate on transgender individuals using bathrooms that align with their biological sex.

Currently, several states have passed laws restricting access to transgender procedures for minors due to an increase in the number of youths identifying as the opposite gender.

States with Laws Limiting Transgender Procedures for Minors:

• Florida
• Georgia
• Mississippi
• Arkansas
• Tennessee
• Kentucky
• West Virginia
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Oklahoma
• South Dakota
• North Dakota
• Montana
• Idaho
• Utah
• Arizona

Similar bills are also pending or have passed in at least one state legislative chamber in Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, and Wyoming. In total, 33 states have pending bills addressing this topic.

Critics argue that minors are not developmentally prepared to make decisions about transgender transition, as the procedures involved are permanent and may not consider the possibility that a child may become more comfortable with their biological sex later in life. Supporters, on the other hand, believe that these procedures are the most effective way to treat gender dysphoria.

Christie takes a middle-ground stance on the issue, stating that he would allow the procedures as president but would prioritize parental involvement.

“Many Republican governors across the country have been banning hormone therapy and puberty blockers for transgender people under 18 years old,” anchor Jake Tapper said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“As governor of New Jersey, you signed into law some legal protections for trans people, including students. What do you make of your fellow Republican governors and candidates going in the opposite direction?”

“Jake, what I believe we should be focused on most importantly in these issues is making sure there’s parental involvement at every step along the way,” Christie replied.

“I don’t think that the government should ever be stepping into the place of the parents in helping to guide their children through a process where those children are confused or concerned about their gender. The parents are the ones best positioned to make these judgments. Therefore, I believe each state should require parental involvement in these decisions.

“Folks under the age of 18 should have parental support, guidance, and love as they make key decisions in their lives,” added the New Jersey Republican. “And the government should not exclude them in any way.”

Christie’s stance sets him apart from some of his top rivals for the GOP nomination.

President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the nomination, has pledged to “defeat the cult of gender ideology” as a key part of his 2024 platform. Trump aims to “protect children from left-wing gender insanity.”