Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has signed a law banning puberty blockers, hormones, and surgical sex change procedures for minors.
The Transgender Medical Treatment and Procedures bill, SB 16, will prohibit those under 18 from obtaining procedures “for the purpose of effectuating a sex change.”
“Legislation that impacts our most vulnerable youth requires careful consideration and deliberation,” Gov. Cox said in a statement. “While not a perfect bill, we are grateful for Sen. Kennedy’s more nuanced and thoughtful approach to this terribly divisive issue. More and more experts, states and countries around the world are pausing these permanent and life-altering treatments for new patients until more and better research can help determine the long-term consequences.”
Cox continued on to say that “we will continue to push the Legislature for additional resources to organizations that work to help this important Utah community. While we understand our words will be of little comfort to those who disagree with us, we sincerely hope that we can treat our transgender families with more love and respect as we work to better understand the science and consequences behind these procedures.”
According to a report from The Hill, the bill will “also will require medical providers, starting July 1, to consider whether alternative medical treatments to gender-affirming care would provide a minor with the ‘best long-term outcome.’ It will also require them to identify and document any physical or mental health condition and consider if treating those conditions before providing the care will give them the best outcome.”
“Starting Jan. 1 of next year, the law will consider providing hormonal treatment to a transgender youth without a proper certification to be ‘unprofessional conduct,’” the report continues. “Doctors will be able to receive the certification after completing 40 hours of “education” related to transgender health care from an approved organization.”
LGBTQ activists staged a sit-in outside the governor’s office after the bill was signed.
“Trans lives are on the line! Governor Cox, please don’t sign!” #LGBTQ rights activists chanted. https://t.co/qFCHMCJwUX
— The Salt Lake Tribune (@sltrib) January 28, 2023
The far-left American Civil Liberties Union of Utah also issued a statement blasting the law.
“Last year you spoke about how important it is to act on the side of ‘kindness, mercy, and compassion,’” the statement read. “We echo the concerns and commitments you raised to give transgender youth in Utah a chance to live. This bill will undermine those commitments. The ACLU of Utah is deeply concerned about the damaging and potentially catastrophic effects this law will have on people’s lives and medical care, and the grave violations of people’s constitutional rights it will cause.”
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