Alabama Is Steps Away From Making Gender-Affirming Care a Felony
is seeking to sanction such care with life in prison.Kathie Moehlig, the Executive Director of Trans Family Support services in Huntsville told Alabama television station WHNT that the bill would be devastating for trans youth.“To have your rights taken away for medically necessary care that doctors and professionals agree is necessary and your family is in alignment that this is important care for my child and their life and wellbeing,” she said. “It’s devastating to think that a politician can take that away from us in this country.“It’s putting a tremendous pressure on teachers and other professionals to get involved in matters that are family matters, that are matters between families and doctors,” Moehlig continued. “Our teachers have their hands full teaching and they should be allowed to teach freely without having these extra pieces put on top of them.”Trans Family Support Services Program Manager Mani Blunt said the best way to protect trans kids is to improve access to mental health resources."Support is suicide prevention,” Blunt said. “The suicide rate is elevated for transgender youth.”The Human Rights Commission, in response to the passage of the bill last week in the Alabama House condemned the legislation. “This bill is an outrageous violation of privacy.
If passed into law, Alabama would become only the second state in the country to have passed a ban on transgender youth being able to access affirming care.
The first was Arkansas, which passed such a law last year over the Governor’s veto and then was immediately enjoined in federal court.”The American Medical Association (AMA) has also weighed in on its opposition to the bill.
