In a major blow to LGBTQ+ rights, Alabama’s Governor Kay Ivey has signed two horrific anti-trans bills into law. On 8 April, the Republican official gave her stamp of approval for Senate Bill 184 (SB 184) and House Bill 322 (HB 322).
Under SB 184, also known as The Vulnerable Child Protection Act, medical professionals will face felony charges for offering gender-affirming care to trans youth under the age of 18 years old.
If an individual is found guilty of providing puberty blockers, hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgeries, the penalty could be $15,000 with up to 10 years in prison.
According to a report from NBC News, the bill makes Alabama the first state to implement felony penalties for giving gender-affirming care to minors.