Montana bans gender-affirming care despite the personal plea.
In a move that has sparked controversy, Montana's Republican governor has signed legislation banning or limiting gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, making it the most recent state to do so.
Despite the impassioned pleas of families of transgender youth, who insist that such care is vital, Montana now joins at least 15 other states with similar laws.
Montana Bans Gender-Affirming Care
According to ABC, the passing of legislation in Montana restricting gender-affirming care for minors has caused a stir in the community and among LGBTQ rights advocates.
The new law prohibits healthcare providers from offering gender-affirming medical procedures, puberty blockers, including hormone therapy, and surgeries, to individuals under 18 years old.
This bill is similar to laws already passed in at least 14 other states in the United States.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed the bill into law, citing concerns over the impact that these medical procedures could have on minors.
In his letter to the legislators, the governor acknowledged the need for love, compassion, and respect towards transgender Montanans but maintained that minors should not be allowed to make such serious decisions without parental consent and appropriate medical guidance.
Advocates for transgender rights and healthcare professionals argue that gender-affirming medical care is essential for the well-being of transgender youth and should be available to them without restriction.
They assert that such laws undermine the rights of young people to make decisions about their own bodies and can have long-term consequences for their physical and mental health.
Furthermore, in Montana, as reported by CNN, the personal plea from David Gianforte, the son of the governor, highlights the deepening divisions over transgender issues in the state.
David, a nonbinary individual, requested a meeting with his father to discuss the implications of the bill and ask him to veto it.
Although David's appeal was unsuccessful, it brought attention to the fact that transgender individuals and their families are directly affected by these laws, and their voices must be heard in the ongoing debates over transgender rights.
Read Also: DOJ Joins Lawsuit Against Tennessee for Targeting Transgender Minors with Discriminatory Law
Montana Bans Rep. Zooey Zephyr
The controversy surrounding Montana's bill to ban or restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors drew national attention after Democratic Representative Zephyr voiced her opposition to the legislation.
Republicans punished her for her comments, calling her words personally offensive and banning her from speaking on the House floor until she apologized.
However, Zephyr has not apologized for her remarks and has continued to speak out against the bill.
She called the bill unconstitutional and cruel, and promised trans youth that they would win in the end.
With that, protesters interrupted House proceedings for 30 minutes while Zephyr stood defiantly on the House floor with her microphone raised.
As a result, she was banned from the House and its gallery and had to vote on bills from a bench outside the House on Thursday and Friday.
According to the Associated Press, Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of Montana have announced their intention to challenge the ban in court.
If the ban takes effect on October 1, transgender youth in Montana will have five months to find a way to work around the ban or to transition off hormone treatment.
The passage of this bill reflects the growing divide across the US regarding transgender rights, with some states moving towards greater protections and inclusion and others enacting more restrictive laws.
