Bill package would ban gender-affirming care for minors in Michigan
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — A package of bills banning gender-affirming care for minors has been introduced in both chambers of the Michigan legislature—causing controversy and splitting public opinion.
'Well, we are going to oppose it with every fiber of our being, because it's cruel, callous, dangerous, and it's discriminatory.' That's what Jay Kaplan, a staff attorney of the LGBTQ+ Project of the ACLU of Michigan, said in response to the bills introduced by State Sen. Thomas Albert (R-18) and State Rep. Brad Paquette (R-37) that would ban gender-affirming treatment for minors.
Jay Kaplan speaks with 6 News over Zoom. (WLNS)
Lawmakers want to ban gender-affirming treatments for minors because they say the procedures have negative or even consequential side effects and outcomes. These lawmakers have introduced House Bills 4466 and 4466, as well as Senate Bills 289 and 290.
Paquette went even further to explain that children could file a lawsuit against their doctors up to 20 years after the initial treatment, which could result in doctors losing their licenses.
Former case manager of the Washington University Transgender Center Jamie Reed spoke at a press conference in Lansing Wednesday, saying that the effects these treatments have on the body can be permanent and long-lasting, which is why lawmakers need to step in.
'It is critical that legislative bodies step in to protect children in this state from these dangerous and reckless practices,' said Reed.
Jamie Reed speaks at a press conference in Lansing. (WLNS)
Reed said that she was once allied with these treatments, but now is completely against the system that the university followed when treating transgender children.
'I was complicit in harming patients because the protocol itself harms patients,' said Reed. 'There is no safe or legal way to sterilize the child, and there is no safe way to medically disrupt the function of the endocrine system.'
The bills don't have complete bipartisan agreement, with at least one lawmaker, State Rep. Emily Dievendorf, voicing opposition to the legislation.
Dievendorf said in a statement to 6 News that 'this package represents more attacks on our kids that ignore science and facts, go against best practices for medical care, and aim to dehumanize our most vulnerable neighbors. (What is…) especially offensive today is that the neighbors targeted for hateful rhetoric are now our children. This package is going nowhere fast and exists solely to defend hate and bigotry. Let's make hate abhorrent again.'
Tess Miller, member of St. Johns Call–In Coalition and mother of a transgender son, says this is the reason she is not seeing any progress with her son's doctors, because of the fear that they may lose their license or might not be able to give consistent treatment altogether.
Miller says she doesn't see gender affirming care for children as harmful, but as necessary care to ensure her child can be who he is meant to be.
Tess Miller speaks to 6 News in-studio. (WLNS)
'When my son came out as trans in 2020, I realized that no matter how comfortable I was making him out in the world, if he wasn't feeling comfortable on the inside, then there was a chance he might not be able to go on and live a healthy, productive life,' said Miller.
Activists say the legislation is a distraction from lawmakers who want to single out the transgender community rather than work on more pertinent issues, such as affordable housing or grocery prices.
'What are you doing to solve the real problems for the residents in the state of Michigan?' said Kaplan. 'Do your job and quit bullying transgender youth – they are some of our most marginalized and vulnerable populations. Who make up less than half a percent, maybe 1% at most of Michigan's population.'
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