What to know about gender-affirming care for trans youth as Texas House to debate SB 14
A ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth will soon be debated on the Texas House floor.
Prohibitions outlined in Senate Bill 14 include “procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment or gender dysphoria.” It would not allow taxpayers money to be spent to provide those services.
There are currently an estimated 29,800 youths ages 13-17 in Texas who identify as transgender, according to a statistical analysis by the Williams Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, physician groups across the U.S. — including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association — support gender-affirming care.
But the Texas Medical Association, the state’s largest physicians group, has taken a neutral stance on the legislation, the Dallas Morning News reports.
What is gender-affirming care?
Sometimes referred to as transition-related care, it is healthcare for transgender people of all ages.
It is not a single category of services but a range of services that include mental health care, medical care and social services.
It is designed to help treat gender dysphoria, or the distress experienced by people whose gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth.
It is meant to assist transgender and non-binary people live safe and healthy lives.
Does gender-affirming care include surgery?
There is no single gender-affirming surgery, and surgery is not needed to be transgender. There are a range of gender-affirming procedures that can be done.
Plastic surgery — to change facial features to typically be more masculine or feminine.
Top surgery — to make changes to the chest or torso.
Bottom surgery — to make changes to genitals.
These U.S. states have banned gender-affirming care
At least 15 U.S. states have gender-affirming bans at the moment.
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
West Virginia
This story was originally published May 2, 2023 at 12:32 PM.