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Irish Independent
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
See photos as Wicklow Rugby Club hosts annual dinner dance
Special guests from Rathdrum, Greystones and Arklow rugby clubs were also in attendance, alongside current and past Wicklow RFC members, their families and friends. President Ann Morrissey welcomed everyone to the event and spoke about the club's many achievements over the past 12 months. Awards on the night were also presented to the senior men's and women's section and the recently formed under-20s. The senior player of the year was Ben Watson, while Brian Johnson won young player of the year. The seconds player of the year was Caolan Mooney. Luke Fox collected the award for most improved player. The under-20 player of the year was Eamonn Goddard, and the under-20 award for most improved player was won by Jack McCaul. In the women's section, the AIL player of the year was Caitlin Griffey. J1 player of the year was Faye O'Neill. Most improved player was Val Conyard. The young player of the year was Clara Dunne. The Mervyn Morrison Trophy for coach of the year was awarded to the under-18 coaches. The Peter Duffy Trophy for long-service to the club was won by brother and sister Robert Nolan and Lynn Armstrong. The Clarke Auctioneers Trophy for service over the past year was deservedly won by Rhona Younger. The night proved a resounding success, with all present dancing away into the early hours, with the band Fusion providing the music.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia Senate advances pair of bills to ban gender-transitioning treatment for minors, inmates
Georgia's Senate passed two bills to ban most gender-transitioning treatment for minors and inmates in state prisons, with some Democrats joining Republicans in supporting the measures. Lawmakers voted 34-19 on Monday for a bill to ban most gender-transitioning treatments, including puberty blockers, for anyone under the age of 18, even for people already on treatment. In 2023, the state banned most gender-transitioning surgeries and hormone replacement therapies for transgender children unless they were already receiving treatment. "You're asking [minors] to make changes that will have changes to the rest of their lives," GOP Sen. Ben Watson, the bill's sponsor, said Monday. "It is not a fair decision to them. It is not a fair decision to the parents." A second bill — sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Randy Robertson — that would ban most gender-transitioning treatment for inmates in state prisons passed 37-15. Senate Dems Face Backlash After Bill To Prevent Boys From Playing Girls' Sports Fails To Break Filibuster Opponents of the measures accused Republicans of playing politics by targeting transgender people and argued that lawmakers should focus on more pressing issues. They said both bills infringe on the rights of transgender people and their families to make decisions about gender-transitioning treatment. Read On The Fox News App "This body has promulgated bill after bill attacking trans people with the ultimate goal of making trans folks disappear. We've been here before," Senate Minority Whip Kim Jackson, a Democrat who is openly lesbian, said Monday. At least 26 states have enacted laws restricting gender-transitioning treatment for minors, although most have been slapped with lawsuits. Texas Lawmaker Proposes Bill To Ban Gender Transition Treatment For Everyone, Including Adults Jackson and other Democrats proposed an amendment to Watson's bill that would have allowed minors already receiving gender-transitioning treatment to continue to avoid the medical and emotional risks of stopping in the middle of treatment, but the amendment failed. Democrat Sens. Elena Parent and Sonya Halpern reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the rights of transgender people but bucked party lines to vote for Robertson's bill, saying they do not believe taxpayers should be burdened with the cost of gender-transitioning treatment for inmates. Parents proposed an amendment to make an exception for inmates already undergoing hormone replacement therapy, but that amendment also failed. "I will not let my party be dragged into an argument that makes us look out of touch with the very people we claim to represent," Halpern said. Democrat Sen. Sally Harrell, who has two transgender children, said she wanted "to remind people that we are talking about very real people — parents, children, families." Sen. Freddie Powell Sims was the lone Democrat who voted for both bills, while four Democrats supported the bill banning gender-transitioning treatment for inmates. Last month, the Senate passed bills to ban biological boys from playing in girls' sports and stripped public funding for gender-transitioning treatment for adults. The four bills will now head to the House. The Associated Press contributed to this article source: Georgia Senate advances pair of bills to ban gender-transitioning treatment for minors, inmates
Fox News
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Georgia Senate advances pair of bills to ban gender-transitioning treatment for minors, inmates
Georgia's Senate passed two bills to ban most gender-transitioning treatment for minors and inmates in state prisons, with some Democrats joining Republicans in supporting the measures. Lawmakers voted 34-19 on Monday for a bill to ban most gender-transitioning treatments, including puberty blockers, for anyone under the age of 18, even for people already on treatment. In 2023, the state banned most gender-transitioning surgeries and hormone replacement therapies for transgender children unless they were already receiving treatment. "You're asking [minors] to make changes that will have changes to the rest of their lives," GOP Sen. Ben Watson, the bill's sponsor, said Monday. "It is not a fair decision to them. It is not a fair decision to the parents." A second bill — sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Randy Robertson — that would ban most gender-transitioning treatment for inmates in state prisons passed 37-15. Opponents of the measures accused Republicans of playing politics by targeting transgender people and argued that lawmakers should focus on more pressing issues. They said both bills infringe on the rights of transgender people and their families to make decisions about gender-transitioning treatment. "This body has promulgated bill after bill attacking trans people with the ultimate goal of making trans folks disappear. We've been here before," Senate Minority Whip Kim Jackson, a Democrat who is openly lesbian, said Monday. At least 26 states have enacted laws restricting gender-transitioning treatment for minors, although most have been slapped with lawsuits. Jackson and other Democrats proposed an amendment to Watson's bill that would have allowed minors already receiving gender-transitioning treatment to continue to avoid the medical and emotional risks of stopping in the middle of treatment, but the amendment failed. Democrat Sens. Elena Parent and Sonya Halpern reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the rights of transgender people but bucked party lines to vote for Robertson's bill, saying they do not believe taxpayers should be burdened with the cost of gender-transitioning treatment for inmates. Parents proposed an amendment to make an exception for inmates already undergoing hormone replacement therapy, but that amendment also failed. "I will not let my party be dragged into an argument that makes us look out of touch with the very people we claim to represent," Halpern said. Democrat Sen. Sally Harrell, who has two transgender children, said she wanted "to remind people that we are talking about very real people — parents, children, families." Sen. Freddie Powell Sims was the lone Democrat who voted for both bills, while four Democrats supported the bill banning gender-transitioning treatment for inmates. Last month, the Senate passed bills to ban biological boys from playing in girls' sports and stripped public funding for gender-transitioning treatment for adults. The four bills will now head to the House.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Georgia Senate advances bills to restrict gender-affirming care with some Democratic support
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's Senate passed two bills Monday that would ban most gender-affirming care for minors and people incarcerated in state prisons, mirroring moves by Republicans across states and a handful of executive orders by President Donald Trump targeting transgender people. The chamber voted 34-19 for a bill that would ban puberty blockers and most gender-affirming care for people under 18, including those already undergoing treatment. Georgia lawmakers in 2023 banned most gender-affirming surgeries and hormone replacement therapies for transgender minors unless they were already receiving treatment. The law lets doctors prescribe puberty blockers. 'You're asking (minors) to make changes that will have changes to the rest of their lives,' bill sponsor Republican Sen. Ben Watson, of Savannah, said Monday. 'It is not a fair decision to them. It is not a fair decision to the parents.' See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. A second bill sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Randy Robertson passed 37-15 and would ban most gender-affirming care for people incarcerated in state prisons. Last month, the chamber passed bills to ban transgender people from playing in school sports and cut off public funding for gender-affirming care for adults. The four bills will now head to the House for debate. Opponents said Republicans are playing politics by targeting transgender people and that lawmakers should focus on helping Georgians with more pressing issues such as housing and healthcare. They say both bills infringe on the rights of transgender people and their families to make decisions about gender-affirming care. 'This body has promulgated bill after bill attacking trans people with the ultimate goal of making trans fols disappear. We've been here before," said Senate Minority Whip Kim Jackson, a Stone Mountain Democrat who is openly lesbian. At least 26 states have adopted laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors, and most are facing lawsuits. A study released in January found that fewer than 1 in 1,000 adolescents with commercial insurance during a five-year period received gender-affirming medications such as puberty blockers or hormones. Jackson and other Democrats proposed a failed amendment to Watson's bill that would let minors receiving treatment keep going to avoid the medical and emotional ramifications of stopping midway. Sens. Elena Parent and Sonya Halpern, both Atlanta Democrats, reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the rights of transgender people but broke with their party to vote for Robertson's bill because they said they do not think taxpayers should pay for gender-affirming care for people in prison. Parent proposed an amendment to make an exception for incarcerated people already undergoing hormone replacement therapy that failed. 'I will not let my party be dragged into an argument that makes us look out of touch with the very people we claim to represent,' Halpern said. Sen. Sally Harrell, an Atlanta Democrat who has two transgender children, took the stand toward the end of the evening. 'It felt like we were debating a political football instead of people," Harrell said of a debate on the school sports bill. "And so I came to this well to remind people that we are talking about very real people — parents, children, families.' Dawson Democrat Sen. Freddie Powell Sims voted for both bills. Four Democrats for the bill banning gender-affirming care for people in prison. ___ Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon.
Associated Press
04-03-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Georgia Senate advances bills to restrict gender-affirming care with some Democratic support
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's Senate passed two bills Monday that would ban most gender-affirming care for minors and people incarcerated in state prisons, mirroring moves by Republicans across states and a handful of executive orders by President Donald Trump targeting transgender people. The chamber voted 34-19 for a bill that would ban puberty blockers and most gender-affirming care for people under 18, including those already undergoing treatment. Georgia lawmakers in 2023 banned most gender-affirming surgeries and hormone replacement therapies for transgender minors unless they were already receiving treatment. The law lets doctors prescribe puberty blockers. 'You're asking (minors) to make changes that will have changes to the rest of their lives,' bill sponsor Republican Sen. Ben Watson, of Savannah, said Monday. 'It is not a fair decision to them. It is not a fair decision to the parents.' A second bill sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Randy Robertson passed 37-15 and would ban most gender-affirming care for people incarcerated in state prisons. Last month, the chamber passed bills to ban transgender people from playing in school sports and cut off public funding for gender-affirming care for adults. The four bills will now head to the House for debate. Opponents said Republicans are playing politics by targeting transgender people and that lawmakers should focus on helping Georgians with more pressing issues such as housing and healthcare. They say both bills infringe on the rights of transgender people and their families to make decisions about gender-affirming care. 'This body has promulgated bill after bill attacking trans people with the ultimate goal of making trans fols disappear. We've been here before,' said Senate Minority Whip Kim Jackson, a Stone Mountain Democrat who is openly lesbian. At least 26 states have adopted laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors, and most are facing lawsuits. A study released in January found that fewer than 1 in 1,000 adolescents with commercial insurance during a five-year period received gender-affirming medications such as puberty blockers or hormones. Jackson and other Democrats proposed a failed amendment to Watson's bill that would let minors receiving treatment keep going to avoid the medical and emotional ramifications of stopping midway. Sens. Elena Parent and Sonya Halpern, both Atlanta Democrats, reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the rights of transgender people but broke with their party to vote for Robertson's bill because they said they do not think taxpayers should pay for gender-affirming care for people in prison. Parent proposed an amendment to make an exception for incarcerated people already undergoing hormone replacement therapy that failed. 'I will not let my party be dragged into an argument that makes us look out of touch with the very people we claim to represent,' Halpern said. Sen. Sally Harrell, an Atlanta Democrat who has two transgender children, took the stand toward the end of the evening. 'It felt like we were debating a political football instead of people,' Harrell said of a debate on the school sports bill. 'And so I came to this well to remind people that we are talking about very real people — parents, children, families.' Dawson Democrat Sen. Freddie Powell Sims voted for both bills. Four Democrats for the bill banning gender-affirming care for people in prison. ___
