State Democrats and Advocates Condemn Bill Banning Gender-Affirming Care

Source: NC Newsline

Last week, North Carolina Senate Republicans advanced a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The bill, which is stricter than its House counterpart, would make it illegal for health care professions to provide gender-affirming care for youth across the state. 

Medical professionals, advocates, and state Democrats have raised alarms over the impact of this bill; with one state Senator warning that the bill may add to the ever-growing youth mental health crisis. 

“Children time and time again, especially with regards to trans children, the ones that we are talking about, disproportionally commit suicide and there is tons of data that says when they have access to this care, the chances of them committing suicide decrease by more than 50%,” Sen. Sydney Batch stated during the Senate Judiciary Committee last week

In the last few years, the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared a state of national emergency over the youth mental health crisis plaguing the country. The creation of laws that target transgender youth and deny parents rights in their decision about health care for their children’s needs has steadily attributed to the crisis.

Polling from The Trevor Project found that 86% of transgender and nonbinary youth said debates around state laws targeting transgender people’s rights, much like North Carolina’s Senate bill, negatively impacted their mental health

Nearly 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide in the past year, according to The Trevor Project.

“[The bill] just marginalizes us more, just pushes us out of the mainstream more, and it gives bigots more ammunition,” D Sellars, an advocate and local parent, told The Associated Press.

Prior to the vote, medical professionals and North Carolinians rallied outside the state General Assembly to advocate against the controversial bill; arguing that transgender youth in the state are being targeted.

“It’s not an overnight decision,” stated Margaret Bilodaeu during the rally. “I think that parents should still have the right to consent to lifesaving medical care for their children whether or not my next-door neighbor thinks that. That’s my right as a parent.”

Read more at NC Newsline

Share:

More Posts

Las Amenazas de Tarifas de Trump y sus Consecuencias para América del Norte

Las amenazas de tarifas de Donald Trump contra Canadá y México pusieron en riesgo la economía de América del Norte. Trump ha adoptado una postura agresiva con los dos principales socios comerciales de Estados Unidos. La implementación de tarifas del 25% a todas las importaciones desde México y la mayoría de las importaciones de Canadá, junto con un impuesto menor del 10% a los productos energéticos canadienses, causó una tormenta política y económica.

“North Carolinians v Griffin”: Statewide Rallies Against Jefferson Griffin’s Power Grab

Hosted by Common Cause North Carolina, the rallies over the President’s Day holiday will give impacted voters a chance to raise their voices and condemn N.C. Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin’s effort to throw out 65,500 ballots cast in the November election.

Rallies will take place in various locations including Raleigh, Hillsborough, Apex, Greensboro, Charlotte, Salisbury, Asheville, Boone, Rutherfordton, Franklin, Greenville, Elizabeth City, Nags Head, Warrenton, Fayetteville, New Bern, and more.

Trump’s federal freeze threatens disaster relief, school funding, state patrol in NC

The freeze would result in North Carolina losing billions of dollars in funding for disaster relief, public schools, and state agencies. Though the order was temporarily blocked by a federal judge, Rep. Deborah Ross explained that it has left state and federal officials confused on how to proceed. She remains hopeful that it will not be allowed to pass but expressed the importance of understanding what is at risk.