U.S. Senator J.D. Vance, Ohio, has introduce a bill that would prohibit physicians from performing transgender medical interventions on young children.
The “Protect Children’s Innocence Act” would make it illegal for physicians to conduct “genital mutilation, chemical castration, and sterilization of innocent children” by outlawing falsely named gender-affirming care.
“It shall be unlawful, in any circumstance … to knowingly perform any gender-affirming care on a minor,” the bill states.
According to a summary of the bill released by the senator’s office, the Act would:
- Classify “gender-affirming care” as a Class C felony, carrying a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.
- Cease all taxpayer funding of “gender-affirming care.”
- Prohibit higher education institutions from providing instruction on “gender-affirming care.”
The Act also creates a civil course of action, so that individuals on whom “gender-affirming care” has been performed can bring a civil lawsuit against the person who performed the procedures.
“Under no circumstances should doctors be allowed to perform these gruesome, irreversible operations on underage children,” said Senator Vance in a statement.
He added:
With this legislation, we have an opportunity to save countless young Americans from a lifetime of suffering and regret. I want to thank Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene for leading on this issue, and I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to protect children from these life-altering procedures.
Sen. Vance’s bill is companion legislation to H.R. 1399, the House version of the bill, which is currently cosponsored by 44 members of the House of Representatives.
It’s almost difficult to believe that in the 21st century, federal legislation is needed to prevent the disfigurement and sterilization of minor children. And yet, that’s the society that we currently live in.
Unfortunately, given the current composition of the U.S. Senate, it is highly unlikely the bill will be voted on, much less passed by the chamber, which is very telling. Any bill that is brought to the floor needs 60 votes to receive cloture in order to proceed for a final vote on the bill, when a majority vote would be required.
However, Sen. Vance should be commended for bringing the issue of the protection of children to our nation’s legislative body. And the bill’s introduction sets the stage so that, hopefully, a future U.S. Senate with a more favorable composition will consider the bill.
Predictably, left wing activist groups like the Human Rights Campaign are denouncing the Protect Children’s Innocence Act as “extreme” and “radical.”
But let’s be clear here. There is nothing radical or extreme about protecting young children from harmful transgender medical intervention procedures. Not protecting children from these procedures is radical.
The Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) is a group comprised of 13,000 healthcare professionals that provides resources and a public voice for Christian healthcare workers and students.
CMDA has documented the substantial harms that come from transgender medical interventions being performed on young children.
Children “treated” with opposite sex hormones have increased health risks, including high blood pressure, blood clots, stroke, heart attack, infertility and cancer.
Additionally, there is increasing evidence that surgical transitioning does not relieve depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation or actual suicide attempts in individual who undergo the procedures.
CMDA also notes that most children and adolescents who express transgender tendencies eventually come to identify with their biological sex, if they are not “treated” with puberty blockers, opposite sex hormones and surgeries.
Individuals, especially young children, who experience gender dysphoria deserve our compassion and support. Too many of these children are caught up in a social contagion of following what’s trendy and increasingly affirmed by peers and popular culture.
And part of that compassion is ensuring young children are protected from harmful and experimental transgender medical interventions.
Focus on the Family exists to help families, and that includes help navigating the issues of homosexuality and transgenderism. Focus offers a free, one-time counseling consultation with a licensed or pastoral counselor. To request a counseling consultation, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) or fill out our Counseling Consultation Request Form.
Related articles and resources:
Counseling Consultation & Referrals
Transgenderism and Minors: What Does the Research Really Show?
Three More States Protect Children From Damaging ‘Transgender’ Medical Procedures!
How to Defeat Gender Ideology, Protect Children and End ‘Trans America’
How to Defeat Gender Ideology, Protect Children and End ‘Trans America’ Pt. 2
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