The North Dakota House of Representatives supported a bill to ban sex change treatments for minors, and it will be sent to the state Senate for full passage. This regulation includes a ban on transgender athletes competing in women's sports.
The bill passed thanks to the vote of 66 representatives, while 25 voted against it. Brandon Prichard, Republican representative and sponsor, celebrated the victory:
VICTORY! HB 1254 which criminalizes “gender-affirming” surgeries and medications on minors passed the House of Representatives today with 66 votes! This is a veto-proof bill as it is supported by more than 2/3 of the house. Onto the senate!
🚨 VICTORY! HB 1254 which criminalizes “gender-affirming” surgeries and medications on minors passed the House of Representatives today with 66 votes! This is a veto-proof bill as it is supported by more than 2/3 of the house. Onto the senate! pic.twitter.com/aReJAjA5hd
— Brandon Prichard (@RealPrichard) February 18, 2023
Physicians who perform sex change surgeries on minors will be prosecuted and face a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of $20,000. In addition, they will be prohibited from prescribing hormones or puberty blockers.
Josh Boschee, a Democratic representative, said:
This is just a complete overreach of our government. And again, another example of us just trying to limit and erase certain people from our society. ... We should be able to collect as much data as we can to make sure that we can help improve people’s lives.
