Indiana and Idaho ban sex-change treatment for minors aged under 18

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Idaho and Indiana have now fully passed laws banning sex-change treatment, including puberty blockers and transition surgeries for minors under the age of 18, ABC7 News reports. Idaho’s legislation was signed into law by Republican Gov. Brad Little on Tuesday, while Indiana’s was signed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday.

The new Idaho law will take effect in January next year, and makes it a criminal offense to give sex-change treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone treatment and transition surgeries to minors, ABC7 said.

“In signing this bill, I recognize our society plays a role in protecting minors from surgeries or treatments that can irreversibly damage their healthy bodies,” Idaho Gov. Little wrote in a statement. “However, as policymakers we should take great caution whenever we consider allowing the government to interfere with loving parents and their decisions about what is best for their children.”

Taking effect on July 1, the Indiana law prohibits minors from accessing sex change hormones or surgery, ABC7 said. The law also requires those already on sex-change medication to stop taking it by the end of the year. Moreover, doctors who carry out such treatments would be subjected to disciplinary action by the licensing board.

“Permanent gender-changing surgeries with lifelong impacts and medically prescribed preparation for such a transition should occur as an adult, not as a minor,” Holcomb said in a statement about the legislation.

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