25 States Protect Children from Gender Deforming Intervention

25 States Protect Children From Mutilation

25 States Protect Children from Gender Deforming Procedures

If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.  Matthew 18:6

“Gender affirming care” is the wrong name given to the evil of drugging and mutilating confused little children.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.  Isaiah 5:20

In Chloe Cole’s Motion to Amend Complaint to Add Punitive Damages, the lie of  “gender-affirming care” is more accuratedly renamed as “gender deforming intervention”.  Chloe Cole MPA for Punitive Damages .  This is way more accurate.

Here are a list of states that protect children from gender deforming intervention.  Praise God!

25 States Protect Children

A total of 25 states  have passed laws restricting or banning the evil drugging and mutilation of children.  Hopefully more states will join.

Alabama

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act into law in 2022, making it a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison (and fines up to $15,000) for doctors to treat people under 19 with puberty blockers or hormones to help affirm their gender identity.

The usual predatory activists challeged the law and initially won.  But Alabama appealed, on August 21, 2023, the 11th Circuit upheld the ban protecting children from gender deforming intervention. Read 11th Circuit Ruling Upholding Alabama Law Banning Gender Deforming

Arizona

On June 27th, 2023, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed two executive orders, Arizona Executive_Order_2023_12.01 and Arizona Executive Order Banning Gender Deforming 2023-13, ensuring medically necessary gender-affirming surgery would be covered under state employee health plans and barring state agencies from funding, promoting, or supporting conversion therapy treatment for minors.

The restriction doesn’t ban it altogether, but it financially paralyzes the practice by blocking it from receiving state funding.

Arkansas

In March 2021, Arkansas passed HB 1570, the “Arkansas Save Adolescents From Experimentation” Act, or SAFE Act. 

The SAFE Act bans gender- deforming interventions for minors, including puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery.  The SAFE Act also bans the use of public funds for, and prohibits insurance from covering gender transition procedures.

Doctors who violate the ban can be sued for damages or professionally sanctioned.   Arkansas was the first U.S. state to make gender-affirming medical care illegal.

Usual predatory activists filed suit to challenge the ban and succeeded.  Arkansas Attorney General appealed to the 8th Circuit.  Arguments were heard on April 11, and we await the ruling.

Florida

In May 2023, the wonderful Ron DeSantis passed HB 1069, the “Let Kids Be Kids” initiative, which prohibited “gender identity” and sexual orientation lessons from pre-kindergarten to the 8th Grade after similar legislation in 2022 banned it in Grades K–3.

Doctors who violate may e punished by third-degree felony or first-degree misdemeanor depending on violation, with up to 5 years in prison and fines up to $5,000.

Parents who subject their children to this may lose custody per Senate Bill 254.

Georgia

On March 23, 2023, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 140, which banned child gender transition.

Any physician who violates the act will face discipline by the Georgia Composite Medical Board, the legislation states. Hospitals would face sanctions.

Idaho

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 71, The Vulnerable Child Protection Act, into law in April 2023.

That law makes it a felony to give patients under age 18 puberty blockers or hormone treatments for gender dysphoria.   It also makes it illegal to perform gender-affirming surgeries; however, those are not performed in Idaho. Breaking the law would carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and fine up to $5000.

ACLU found some plaintiffs to challenge the law.  It went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court

On April 15, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency order allowing Idaho to resume enforcing a state ban on sex-change-related procedures for minors after the law was blocked by lower courts. Labrador v Poe Supreme Court

Indiana

In April 2023, Indiana Governor Gov. Eric Holcomb signed Senate Bill 480 (Gender transition procedures for minors) into law.

Indiana law prohibits doctors from knowingly providing “gender transition procedures” to an individual who is less than 18 years of age, including those with parental consent. It also bans them from aiding or abetting another person from providing gender reassignment to minors.

ACLU immediately filed suit and obtained a lower court’s block to the law.  The Attorney General appealed to the 7th Circuit.

In February 2024, the 7th Circuit ssued a stay that lifted that block, and the law goes into effect, protecting children. 7th Circuit Order lifting injunction on Indiana Law Banning Treatment on Minors

Iowa

In March 2023, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law SF 538, which bans gender treatment on minors.

SF 538 bans doctors from giving medical treatment “for the purpose of attempting to alter the appearance of, or affirm the minor’s perception of, the minor’s gender or sex, if that appearance or perception is inconsistent with the minor’s sex [at birth].”

Kentucky

In March 2023, the Kentucky legislature passed SB 150 – a law that prevents minors from accessing transgender procedures – despite Governor Andy Beshear’s veto.

SB 150 prevents children under 18 from accessing transgender procedures such as puberty blockers, hormone therapies, surgeries—such as castration, penectomy, and mastectomy—and other gender transitioning services.

ACLU is fighting this ban.  They got an injunction in the lower court, but the 6th Circuit stayed it, allowing the law to proetct children while ACLU’s appeal to Supreme Court is pending. 6th Circuit Upholding Kentucky Ban

Louisiana

In July, 2023, the Louisiana legislature passed HB 648 (Stop Harming Our Kids Act), over the governor’s veto.

This bill will ban certain transgender procedures on people under the age of 18.

Mississippi

In February 2023, Mississippi Governor  Tate Reeves signed House Bill 1125, also known as the “Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (REAP) Act” into law.

Effective immediately, this law bans “knowingly engaging in conduct that aids or abets” the performance or inducement of gender transition procedures for Mississippians under the age of 18.

The bill also prevents public funds or tax deductions for prohibited gender transition procedures, noting that the direct or indirect use, grant, payment, or distribution of public funds to any entity, organization, or individual that provides gender transition procedures to individuals under the age of 18 is also prohibited.

It also puts in place enforcement procedures on the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure.

Any health care professional found to be in violation of the ban will have their license to practice medicine in the state revoked.

The measure, which also prevents Medicaid from reimbursing or providing coverage for gender transition for persons under the age of 18, allows for health care providers to be sued by their former patients, via their “parent or next friend” within 30 years.

‘Sick and Twisted Ideology’

“At the end of the day, there are two positions here. One tells children that they’re beautiful the way they are. That they can find happiness in their own bodies.

The other tells them that they should take drugs and cut themselves up with expensive surgeries in order to find freedom from depression.

I know which side I’m on.

No child in Mississippi will have these drugs or surgeries pushed upon them.”

Missouri

In May 2023, Missouri’s legislature passed a bill on Wednesday that would ban gender transition surgeries for any minor. The bill was passed to the governor, who is expected to sign it.

The bill, SB 49, Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act prevents health care providers from providing cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to a minor.

ACLU challenged this law, but lost.  A Missouri court upheld the SAFE Act in August 2023.  See ruling: Missouri Order Upholding SAFE Act

Montana

In April 2023, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed SB 99 (the Youth Protection Act), a bill restricting transgender procedures for minors.

The bill prohibits medical and surgical procedures—including puberty blockers—for children struggling with gender dysphoria.  The bill also protects children from “any form of pressure to receive harmful, experimental puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones and to undergo irreversible, life-altering surgical procedures” prior to entering adulthood.

ACLU, Lambda Legal challenged this law, and a state judge temporarily blocked it. Montana Order-Granting-Plaintiffs-Motion-for-Preliminary-Injunction

Nebraska

In May 2023, Nebraska legislature passed LB 574, the “Let Them Grow Act,” prohibits physicians from performing abortions after the 12-week mark of pregnancy, except in cases of medical emergencies, sexual assault, or incest.

The legislation additionally bars “gender-altering procedures,” on minors.

North Carolina

In August 2023, North Carolina passed House Bill 808,  which prohibits the initiation of any gender-affirming care in NC for people under the age of 18, including puberty blockers, gender-affirming hormone therapy, and surgery.

However, if care has already started, it may continue.

North Dakota

In April 2023, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum signed HB 1254 into law.

This emergency measure bans gender mutilation of minors.  These prohibited practices include castration, vasectomy, hysterectomy, oophorectomy, metoidioplasty, orchiectomy, penectomy, phalloplasty, vaginoplasty, and mastectomy on minors.

Felony offense for surgery up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $20,000, misdemeanor offense for gender-affirming medication up to 1 year in prison and a fine up to $3,000.

Ohio

In December 2023, Ohio Senate overrode Governor Mike DeWine’s veto and passed House Bill 454, the Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act.  This bill bans gender transition procedures for minors and prohibit male athletes from playing on female sports teams.

In April 2024, ACLU fought it an obtained a temporary restraining order against this law. Ohio TRO SAFE Act

Oklahoma

In May 2023, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 613 into law.

This bill bans doctors from performing transgender surgeries on anyone under the age of 18. The new law also makes it illegal to prescribe gender-altering medication to minors, such as puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones.

Anyone in violation of the act faces hefty penalties, including potential felony charges carrying up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine, license revocation, as well as civil actions that can be filed by a parent or guardian.

ACLU and Lambda legal immediately sued but lost.  In October 2023, the Oklahoma District judge upheld the law protecting children.  Oklahoma Order Upholding Law Protecting Children

South Carolina

In May 2024, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed into law H4624 (Help Not Harm).

This bill prohibits health care professionals from performing gender transition procedures on minors in the state.

Mr. McMaster said he believes that the “Help Not Harm” bill would “protect our state’s children from irreversible gender transition procedures and ban public funds from being used for them.”

South Dakota

In February 2023, Governor Kristi Noem signed into law HB 1080  (“Help Not Harm” )

This bill bans certain medical and surgical interventions, such as puberty blockers and genital surgery, for trans youth.

A group of plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against this law.  On June 5, 2024, they were denied. id998282-TD-v-Wrigley-prelim-injunction-denied

Tennessee

In April 2024, Tennessee lawmakers on Thursday approved SB 2782, a bill that would criminalize adults who help children access gender transition procedures without parental consent.

Under the bill’s provisions, any adult found recruiting, harboring, or transporting “an unemancipated minor” in Tennessee for the purpose of receiving a prohibited medical procedure related to gender transition would face criminal charges.

Such procedures are defined as those “enabling the minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent” with their sex “or treating purported discomfort or distress from a discordance between the minor’s sex and asserted identity,” regardless of where the procedure is carried out.

Violations would constitute a Class C felony, carrying penalties of three to 15 years imprisonment and fines of up to $10,000. The measure also permits civil action against those found to be in breach of the legislation.

Texas

In June 2023, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 14, which restricts gender transitioning procedures and treatments for minors in the state.

The bill prohibits doctors from performing certain procedures and treatments related to gender transitioning, reassignment, or gender dysphoria to children under the age of 18. It also restricts the use of public funds or public assistance for such procedures.

The newly enacted law specifically bans doctors and health care providers from performing surgeries that render minors unable to have children.

This includes surgeries on males like castration (removing testicles), vasectomy (cutting tubes that carry sperm), orchiectomy (removing testicles), penectomy (removing the penis), and vaginoplasty (making a vagina). It also includes surgeries on females, such as hysterectomy (removing the uterus), oophorectomy (removing ovaries), metoidioplasty (reshaping the clitoris), and phalloplasty (making a penis).

Taking off healthy body parts or tissues, taking drugs that make one unable to have children, or removing breasts is also banned.

But there are some exceptions to the rule. Doctors can give prescription drugs to stop puberty for children who start it too early, with the permission of their parents or guardians. They are also allowed to perform medically necessary procedures or treatments on children who have genetic problems with their sex development or chromosomes.

The law also includes other exceptions for minors who are already undergoing non-surgical treatments before June 1 and those who have undertaken 12 or more sessions of mental health counseling or psychotherapy six months prior to beginning prescription drug treatments. These treatments on children may continue but the patients must “wean” off the medications with the help of their doctor.

ACLU is challenging this law

Utah

In January 2023, Utah Spencer Cox signed SB 16 into law.

This bill prohibits health care providers from performing transgender surgeries or prescribing hormone therapy for minors who haven’t yet been diagnosed with gender dysphoria—a term that the Mayo Clinic defines as “the feeling of discomfort or distress … in people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth or sex-related physical characteristics.”

West Virginia

In March 2023, West Virginia Legislature passed House Bill 2007, which bans health care providers from performing “irreversible gender reassignment surgery” or providing gender-altering medication to minors.

Wyoming:

In March 2024, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed SF 99 (Chloe’s law) into law.

Wyoming will become the latest state to outlaw gender-affirming care for minors after Gov. Mark Gordon on Friday signed legislation banning most procedures and treatments.

SF 99 will bar young people diagnosed with gender dysphoria in Wyoming from treatment in the form of puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgeries — the last of which aren’t performed in the state.

This bill was named after Chloe Cole, a woman who underwent a double mastectomy as a child in California and later regretted it.

Hopefully more states will join this list of brave states protecting children!

Have a case like this?

Family matters are extremely personal, and it is important for us to know details of your case before giving advice. Each case is different, and it is important to find an attorney you trust. To arrange an appointment, please call us at (626) 765-5767 between 8:30am – 5:00pm, Mondays to Fridays, or fill out the form below.

Schedule a Consultation