Idaho And Indiana Join Slew Of Conservative States Blocking Youth Gender-Affirming Care | HuffPost Latest News

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed Wednesday SB 480, prohibiting medical physicians and practitioners from “knowingly providing gender transition procedures to an individual who is less than 18 years of age” or “aiding or abetting” another in doing so. He signed the bill despite calling it “vague” and “clear as mud” a day earlier.

In a statement to HuffPost, Holcomb defended his signing of the bill, saying: “There has and will continue to be a debate within the medical community about the best ways to provide physical and mental health care for adolescents who are struggling with their own gender identity, and it is important that we recognize and understand those struggles are real. With all of that in mind, I have decided to sign SB 480 into law.”

H71 would bar transgender people 18 years old and younger from receiving gender-affirming medication or health care, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and gender-affirming surgeries — with anyone violating the law being threatened with a felony charge and up to 10 years behind bars. The bill will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

“In signing this bill, I recognize our society plays a role in protecting minors from surgeries or treatments that can irreversibly damage their healthy bodies,” Little said in a letter sent to Idaho’s House speaker. “However, as policymakers, we should take great caution whenever we consider allowing the government to interfere with loving parents and their decisions about what is best for their children.”

“The despair being felt by Idaho families is deep as we have been fielding frantic calls since HB71 was introduced and consequently passed both chambers,” she continued. “The fear in parents’ voices is real as they do not know what to tell their teens or how to provide them with hope while their elected representatives actively attempt to legislate them out of existence.”