PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed a bill on Monday that prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender people under the age of 18.
South Dakota is among more than two dozen conservative states considering similar measures this year. HB 1080 is called the “Help Not Harm” Bill by proponents. When it takes effect July 1, it will ban health care professionals who treat transgender children from prescribing drugs such as puberty blockers and performing some types of surgeries. Health care providers could lose their license if found to have provided the banned services and could also be held liable in lawsuits.
However, there are several exemptions in the legislation, including one for children who are “born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development,” which proponents say covers medical situations when a child’s physical sex is unclear.
Opponents of the bill, including health care providers, legal advocates and transgender youth, had argued that such bans help young people psychologically and reduce the risk of suicide among minor young people. They also contended it was government overreach into personal and family healthcare decisions and infringed on patients’ civil rights.
“It’s a huge government overreach into the patient-provider relationship,” Samantha Chapman, of the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota, told legislators during a committee hearing.
During the past several years, the World Health Organization changed its gender and transgender classifications. People who have a gender identity that does not match their physical, sexual characteristics are no longer classified as having a mental or behavioral disorder. They’re regarded as having a condition related to sexual health.
Supporters of the bill said it protected young people from making medical decisions that could harm them for the rest of their lives.
