Indiana Bans Transgender Procedures for Minors

Indiana Governor, Eric Holcomb (R.), has signed a bill into law, banning minors from undergoing sex-change medications and procedures. This legislation brings Indiana in line with the twelve other states that previously passed similar measures.

Opponents of the bill, which prohibits all transgender procedures for minors, have already filed a suit to contest it. (source)

Holcomb noted in a statement that “Permanent gender-changing surgeries with lifelong impacts and medically prescribed preparation for such a transition should occur as an adult, not as a minor.”

This bill was enacted as Oregon Democrats push the Reproductive Health and Access to Care Act, which would allow minors to obtain sex-change surgery and abortions without parental consent. The Act goes even further by requiring insurers to cover elective surgeries such as facial reconstruction.

Indiana joins other states like South Dakota and Mississippi, which have signed similar restrictions on cross-sex treatments for minors.

Republicans have applauded Holcomb’s bill, with Indiana Senator, Mike Braun stating that “A child cannot consent to irreversible sex change surgery, and Indiana will no longer allow children to take dangerous drugs with long-term consequences”. (source)

The bill’s author, State Senator Tyler Johnson (R.), stated that “We really felt common-sense policy to help protect kids, and that’s really the biggest reason we wanted to get this done.”

Nonetheless, Jane Henegar, the American Civil Liberties Union executive director in Indiana, pledged to challenge the law, stating that “In addition to targeting an already vulnerable group, this law blatantly disregards the rights of parents and families to make decisions about their children’s health”.