A law prohibiting gender-affirming care for those under 18 in West Virginia went into effect on January 1, 2024, in Charleston, W. Va. (WOWK).
Gov. According to U.S. News & World Report, Jim Justice (R-W. Va.) signed the bill in March 2023, joining 19 other states that limited some form of gender-affirming care for transgender people under the age of 18.
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The bill prohibits adolescents from receiving hormone treatment and puberty blockers, according to the Associated Press. There are some exceptions; if a person has been diagnosed by two or more health or mental health professionals or is at risk of self-harm or death, the doctor may prescribe the treatment.
In February 2023, the West Virginia House of Delegates approved House Bill 2007 with an 84-to-10 vote. Only two persons spoke in favor of the bill during a committee reading, and 79 persons opposed it.
The act was amended by Sen. Tom Takubo (R-Kanawha, Senate Majority Leader), a physician, to allow minors to get treatment if they have been diagnosed by two or more medical or mental health professionals—at least one of whom is qualified to do so and has received the necessary education in gender distress in adolescents. With two abstentions, the bill passed 20 to 12.
Sen. Mike Maroney (R-Marshall) said it is “unbelievable” to instruct others on how to practice medicine when discussing this amendment.
“We are largely pro-life in this Caucus. These 30 children commit suicide. There will be a few suicides,” according to Sen. Maroney. “Who are we if we win an election and start influencing who practices medicine and who receives innovative solutions? It’s unreal. The president’s act is appreciated. It will benefit some individuals, particularly those who require assistance.”
Sen. Mike Azinger (R-Wood) referred to it as “dangerous” and “wrong” on the other side.
According to Sen. Azinger, “A self-evident truth implanted in the human heart may show mankind—by nature—that attempts to change sex or surgical procedures would be blatantly offensive to the creator.” “However, I would also contend that it is self-evident that using puberty blockers to obstruct a young person’s normal progression—a practice we often refer to as pseudoscience—is both wrong and dangerous.”
Sen. Patricia Rucker (R-Jefferson) proposed the following amendment, which would require any qualified medical professional to report any dispensing of gender-affirming treatment to the Bureau of Vital Statistics without using any data to identify the person. It was determined that it wasn’t appropriate for the bill.
A new amendment from Maroney may include specific clauses in sections that would go into effect on January 1, 2024. On the Senate Floor, this was approved by a voice vote.
This legislation, which was passed by the 2023 Legislature, generated a lot of debate. Bill supporters contend that transgender children are too young to make informed decisions, despite the fact that critics claim they have high suicide attempt rates.
This document was contributed to by The Associated Press.
