Oppose Criminalization of Gender-Affirming Care for Youth

Vote against any measure that criminalizes gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The bill passed by the House doesn't protect kids — it pushes them toward black market hormones, unregulated online suppliers, and peer-to-peer networks with zero medical oversight. That's not safety. That's abandonment dressed up as policy. Untreated gender dysphoria is linked to elevated rates of depression, self-harm, and suicidality. The need doesn't disappear when the legal pathway does. We've seen this before: abortion bans didn't end abortions, and overcriminalizing pain management drove patients to illicit opioids. Every time lawmakers claim they're protecting people by banning care, the result is greater harm, borne most heavily by those with the fewest options — rural youth, youth of color, youth in foster care. Cutting Medicaid coverage on top of criminalization doesn't just limit access; it makes underground sources the only financially viable option for the most vulnerable kids. Criminalization doesn't stop care. It stops oversight. Licensed providers are accountable to medical boards, informed consent requirements, and safety standards. Black market sources are accountable to no one. If the goal is actually to protect children, the answer is regulated, evidence-based medicine — not threatening doctors with prison for treating their patients.