Matt Walsh Testifies In Favor Of Tennessee Bill Banning Child ‘Gender Mutilation’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Daily Wire host Matt Walsh testified before a Tennessee Wednesday’s bill, which would ban sexchange treatment on minors, was passed by the legislature and debated in the House committee. 

Walsh spoke before the House Health Committee in the Cordell Hull Building to discuss House Bill 1, which was introduced by Republican House Majority Leader William Lamberth and would prohibit gender transition drugs and surgeries on minors. 

“We should be able to agree that it is never OK to chemically castrate, sterilize, butcher, or mutilate a child. And in fact, all decent people do agree on this point,” Walsh stated this during his testimony. “But many of the people who hold power in this country and who run our institutions — including our medical institutions — do not pass this basic test of decency.” 

Walsh stated that it was not logical for children to be able make such important decisions, as they are not permitted to purchase guns or get tattoos. He said that “children were being coerced into making decisions” They weren’t equipped to make it.

Walsh conducted an investigation that found that Vanderbilt University Medical Center, (VUMC), had performed double mastectomies in minors. Walsh presented the bill. VUMC paused All such surgeries were performed in October 2022 following an inquiry by Republican legislators. 

Caleb Hemmer, a Democrat asked Walsh about a remark he had once made which has been interpreted to mean that 16-year olds are adults. Walsh responded by saying that wasn’t an accurate reflection of what he said.

“I’m just curious about your definition – if people are adults at 16  – ” Hemmer replied.

Walsh stated that 18 is the legal age of adulthood, but noted that people’s brains typically are not fully developed until age 25.

“So we should be having a conversation about whether we should be doing these surgeries on people at 18, but certainly before 18 it’s absurd,” Walsh answered the question before turning it back to Hemmer.

“Do you think that a 16-year-old can meaningfully consent to having their body parts removed?” Walsh requested silence. “Do you? No?”

Tennessee legislators also heard testimony from witnesses, even those opposing the bill. The bill was eventually approved and could be presented to the full House or Senate. 

Lamberth Introduction Along with Jack Johnson, the Tennessee Senate Majority leader, the Protecting Children from Gender Mutilation Act was introduced in November. The bill would prohibit doctors from prescribing hormones that cause puberty and other cross-sex hormones to minors. It also bans them from performing gender-related operations on minors with the intent of medical transition. The bill would allow patients and their family to sue doctors and inflict a $25,000 fine on each violation.

“This bill is about protecting children,” Johnson. “Under no circumstances should minors be allowed to undergo irreversible elective procedures to mutilate body parts and intentionally harm their reproductive systems. This practice comes with lifelong health complications that children are not capable of understanding.”

The bill’s progression through both chambers of the Tennessee legislature comes after Tennessee Governor Bill Lee promised to end the life-altering procedures on children. 

“We should not allow permanent, life-altering decisions that hurt children. With the partnership of the General Assembly, this practice should end in Tennessee,” Lee spoke in October. 

Despite Democratic opposition, the bill will likely pass because both the House as well as the Senate can be easily controlled by Republicans. 

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