Indiana governor bans treatment for transgender youths

Indiana Republican Governor Eric Holcomb signed a bill into law that prohibits minors from accessing hormonal or surgical treatments to change their gender.

Holcomb signed the legislation into law on Wednesday and it will take effect July 1. However, the governor will give transgender minors already in treatment the opportunity to stop taking hormone therapy drugs and puberty blockers until the end of 2023.

The legislation also prevents gender transition surgeries from being performed on minors. However, representatives of Indiana hospitals have assured that their physicians do not perform such surgeries on persons under the age of 18, nor do they give them any referrals for such surgeries.

"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.

With this decision, Indiana joined the 13 other states that already prohibit surgical and hormonal transitions in minors. The other states with similar bans are: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Utah, South Dakota and West Virginia.

Holcomb's signature came shortly after Idaho Governor Brad Little also signed legislation to protect children by criminalizing gender affirming care for minors. Idaho's law will go into effect the first month of next year.

"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. 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" Little said in a letter addressed to the president of the state House of Representatives.