New bill to punish doctors who provide transgender-related medical care to minors
UPDATED: DECEMBER 30, 2022 AT 11:25 AM
A transgender flag is pictured in front of the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, during a protest over HB11, which would create commission to decide if transgender kids can play sports in schools.
SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah lawmaker opened a new bill that would punish doctors who give transgender-related medical care to minors.
Rep. Rex Shipp, R-Cedar City, is sponsoring the new bill.
Shipp told KSL NewsRadio that the bill “Prohibits surgery — top or bottom surgery. Prohibits cross-sex hormones, and also puberty blockers.”
This marks the second transgender-related bill introduced the month before the legislative session starts.
Shipp said he wants to protect youth who might later regret their decision.
“The thing that these kids do need that I think they feel very strongly about is they need mental health therapy to help them in the process of waiting,” said Shipp. “There’s information out there that shows that if we just allow the time to work with these kids, they’re fine with their biological sex.”
Sen. Mike Kennedy sponsors the other bill.
The bill proposed by Kennedy blocks sex reassignment surgeries but not therapies.
However, Equality Utah’s Transgender advocate Sue Robbins said banning these procedures can lead to depression and even suicide.
“I’m opposed to it, as this healthcare is proven. It is scientifically backed,” Robbins said, adding, “In the Utah way, we typically would leave healthcare between parent and the doctor for that parent’s children.”
In a Facebook post, Robbins outlined the history of the bills.