Idaho Republicans pass bill banning puberty blockers, transgender surgery for minors
The Washington Examiner reported that Republicans in Idaho's state legislature passed a bill this week banning puberty blockers as well as transgender surgery for minors.
Under the legislation, doctors who prescribe puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or sexual reassignment surgeries for those under the age of 18 will face up to 10 years behind bars.
Legislation hailed by conservative medical advocacy group
The bill was passed on Tuesday and must now go to Idaho's state Senate. According to the Examiner, it remains unclear as to whether or not the legislation will proceed from there to Republican Gov. Brad Little's desk.
The bill has been welcomed by members of the American College of Pediatricians, a conservative medical advocacy group that opposes the use of transgender procedures on minors.
"There is not a single long-term study to demonstrate the safety or efficacy of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries for transgender-believing youth," the group said in a statement posted to its website.
"This means that youth transition is experimental, and therefore, parents cannot provide informed consent, nor can minors provide assent for these interventions," the organization continued.
Group says puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones cause range of health problems
"Moreover, the best long-term evidence we have among adults shows that medical intervention fails to reduce suicide," the American College of Pediatricians insisted.
The statement went on to lay out a range of health problems that are believed to be associated with the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone therapy.
These are said to include "osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment, and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility."
"In addition to the harm from Lupron, cross-sex hormones put youth at an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots, and cancers across their lifespan," the statement added.
