A group of Republican lawmakers in West Virginia are pushing to completely ban transgender youth from accessing medical interventions like hormone therapy and puberty blockers. Last year, the GOP-controlled Legislature banned these interventions but allowed an exception for those at risk of self-harm or suicide. Now, lawmakers want to eliminate this exception, which requires parental consent and a diagnosis of severe gender dysphoria from two medical professionals. The bill is being rushed through the House Health and Human Resources Committee, with uncertain chances of passage. Last year, a similar measure passed the House of Delegates but was significantly altered by a Republican Senate Majority Leader who expressed concern about the high suicide rate for transgender youth.
The bill’s lead sponsor, Republican Del. Geoff Foster, believes that hormone therapy and puberty blockers are not effective solutions for transgender youth and that more treatment for depression is needed. While he does not support gender-affirming care for minors, he believes that those 18 and older can make their own decisions. Despite the lack of support for the bill during the committee vote, a motion to allow youth currently receiving treatment to continue was defeated. Fairness West Virginia, the state’s LGBTQ advocacy organization, had their request for a public hearing denied by Republican House Speaker Roger Hanshaw’s office.
At least 23 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, with many facing lawsuits. Organizations like the ACLU of West Virginia have stated their intent to take legal action if the bill becomes law. Many medical groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association, support gender-affirming care for youths, arguing that treatments are safe and beneficial. Federal health officials have also emphasized the importance of gender-affirming care for transgender children and adolescents.
West Virginia University Medicine Pediatrician Dr. Kacie Kidd, one of the few physicians in the state offering gender-affirming care to minors, has emphasized the safety and benefits of puberty-blocking medications and hormone therapy. She has expressed concerns that the bill could put her patients’ lives at risk, as transgender adolescents have a significantly higher rate of considering suicide compared to the general population. Studies have shown that access to medication therapy can decrease rates of suicide ideation and attempts among youth with severe gender dysphoria. Despite opposition from some lawmakers, others have pointed to data and studies supporting the legitimacy of gender-affirming care with the ultimate goal of preventing suicide.
