Alabama Legislators Pass Law Banning Medication To Medically Transition Children

Alabama is in the news again, and America is divided on how to react. The state’s record of stirring controversy is remarkable. The state, again and again, time after time, pushes some piece of legislation that makes conservatives happy and liberals livid. Some things will never change.

That happened earlier this year when Alabama challenged Roe v Wade. Alabama has been at the forefront of anti-abortion legislation in our day. With a topic like abortion, the state was sure to divide the country and even the state. Abortion is a divisive social issue with monumental implications.

Another divisive social issue with monumental implications is the debate about gender transition procedures in children. Many are opposed to the practice on both moral and practical grounds. They maintain it is immoral largely due to natural law argumentation.

They maintain gender transition is impractical because many children change their minds later on. Children are not rational or formed enough to make that kind of decision.

But the opposing side appeals to freedom and inclusivity. These children are already an oppressed group, they maintain. Adding more oppressive legislation only serves as a means of further belittlingly gender-confused children.

In this battle of words, we do not know who will win the day (but we can guess). But in Alabama at least, the Republicans have moved to ban gender transitioning procedures in young children.

As the Associated Press reports:

“The House of Representatives voted 66-28, largely along party lines, to grant final approval to legislation that would make it a felony for a doctor to prescribe puberty blockers or hormones to aid in the gender transition of anyone under age 19. 

Violations would be punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill also would prohibit gender transition surgeries, although doctors told lawmakers those are generally not done on minors.”

Whatever you think of this law, which will be delivered to Governor Kay Ivey for further consideration, it is a major move that could have implications all across the country. The world is watching Alabama and each group will respond to how they see it.