Support trans youth in Idaho
HB 71: Banning Gender Affirming Care for Youth in Idaho
Bill Overview: HB 71 would ban gender affirming care for trans youth in Idaho, including banning puberty blockers and hormone treatments. If HB 71 passes, then doctors, pharmacists, and any provider who assists youth in obtaining gender affirming prescriptions or care could be charged with a felony and up to 10 years in jail.
- People of all gender identities deserve civil and human rights, including the right to high-quality, affordable, and nonjudgmental health care.
- HB 71 is one of the most extreme attacks on transgender health care that we’ve seen across the U.S. HB 71 would ban medically necessary, lifesaving care for transgender youth — care that the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and other leading medical authorities have said is essential for some youth.
- Transgender kids, like any kids, have the best chance to thrive when they are supported and can get the health care they need. This bill would take that away from transgender children in Idaho.
- Being a kid is hard enough. Idaho does not need politicians making it harder for kids who are transgender, denying them best practice medical care and singling them out for increased bullying and harassment.
- Denying medical care and support to transgender youth puts them at risk of serious harm, including depression, social isolation, self-hatred, self-harm, and/or suicidal thoughts or behavior.
- Best practice gender affirming care for youth delays puberty until young people are old enough to make their own decisions about their lived gender. This bill aims to take away their choices and would prevent them from having the chance to live the life they want for themselves.