Legislation that may restrict the use of puberty-blockers among Georgia youth has been advanced by a state senate committee.
House Bill 1170 was sponsored by Representative Lee Hawkins, a Republican from Gainesville. The act, if passed, will require specific government buildings to be equipped with opioid antagonists.
On Monday, Senator Ben Watson (R-Savannah), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, introduced a substitute to House Bill 1170. The added terminology aims to forbid transgender kids from obtaining puberty-stimulating medications. Senator Watson:
“The data indicates that puberty blockers are being used almost exclusively where they are, and that they do eventually go on to have sex changes or sex change estrogen. The data indicates that 50% of people choose not to do that even if they are not used. That’s why, upon reflection, I thought this was appropriate to make it so that adolescents would not be using menstruation filters.”
The substitute sparked a lively discussion, with many bill supporters stepping up. Californian Chloe Cole identified herself as a detransitioner before the commission because she resides there. She claimed that protecting children was the key to outlawing puberty-delaying treatment.
“The only way for a child to develop into an adult is through puberty. No child has any authority to decide whether a child may have their puberty removed from their bodies at the appropriate developmental stage. This process is abusive,” she declared.
Senator Kim Jackson (D-Stone Mountain) objected to the bill, claiming that puberty-blockers prevent a delay in the sex transitioning process.
“We wanted them to be able to wait while sorting out the correct next steps for their gender dysphoria. What happens to that wait, then, if we were to eliminate the ability to take puberty blockers?”
Additionally, the Committee heard from oncologist Quentin Van Meter from the Atlanta region. He claimed that puberty-blockers frequently speed up a whole sex change rather than allowing for a delay in the change process.
“It is used as a quick way to the bridge to sex hormones and, if they choose to go to surgery, as a day for a choice.”
He also shared his opinion with Senator Ben Watson (R-Savannah) regarding the long-lasting health effects of puberty-blockers on those who take them.
His evidence was challenged, however, by Senator Nan Orrock, an Atlanta Democrat, who called into question his qualifications as former president of the American College of Pediatricians.
“You are aware that that organization has been labeled as a hate group because it opposes gay marriage and pedophilia, promotes sexual preference conversion therapy for gay children, thinks transgender people have a mental disorder, and has called trans healthcare for children child abuse?” she asked.
Non-medical act advocates even took the initiative. The Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Mike Griffin.
“We think this is a problem with public health and safety,” the company said. “We have the same kinds of legislation, whether it’s tobacco or tattoos or eating or alcohol or dealing with being involved in gender, those types of things, we already have that because we recognize adolescents need to be protected,” he stated.
Some Democrats objected to the one-sided quality of the day’s testimony. At one point, Senator Sonya Halpern (D-Atlanta) suggested the substitute be tabled.
“Because this was a substitute, none of us were expecting this special bill, especially the piece we’ve been discussing with the puberty blockers.” “I would like to make a motion to table. She said, “We have not been able to hear testimony from anyone who would represent the opposing viewpoint,” and the only people we have heard from today are those who were undoubtedly aware of the sub’s coming and supporting it.”
While the motion to table failed, Senator Orrock doubled down on her earlier claims:
“We have never heard from Georgia’s health industry. The skilled professionals who are skilled in this field have never heard from us. We’ve heard from a physician from a group that is considered a hate group.”
The bill was passed out of committee, 8 to 5.
