Today in Pierre, S.D., lawmakers are holding the very first state hearing on whether to ban surgical and chemical sex-change treatments for minors. The Vulnerable Child Protection Act would prohibit medical sex-change treatments for children under the age of 16 and make those directly involved guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. It would not prevent children from being socially transitioned.
In his introductory remarks, Representative Fred Deutsch of South Dakota’s fourth district, who is sponsoring the bill, emphasized that there was “no contradiction” between his respect for transgender adults and his conviction that irreversible and experimental surgical and chemical interference with a child’s sexual development (on account of his or her confusion about identity) is morally indefensible. Indeed, the “compelling testimony” was from victims, doctors, a progressive feminist who has worked as an attorney for the ACLU, a transgender adult, and a former transgender teen.