West Virginia lawmakers are seeking to repeal a “suicide risk” exception that allows some families to circumvent a ban on hormones and medical sex-reassignment interventions for minors.
Medical interventions for minors who identify as “transgender” were banned in the state last year, but an exemption was left open for youth who were allegedly “at risk of self-harm or suicide.”
According to a report by The Intelligencer, the exemption currently “requires parental consent and a diagnosis of severe gender dysphoria from two medical professionals, both of whom must provide written certification that medical interventions are necessary to prevent or reduce potential or actual self-harm.”
The report adds:
Facing a key legislative deadline next week, lawmakers on the House Health and Human Resources Committee on Friday rushed to advance a bill to the full chamber that would completely ban interventions such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers. Gender confirmation surgery, which doctors have certified does not occur in the state, was banned last year.
It is unclear what the chances of passing the bill are. The House of Delegates passed a similar measure last year, but it was significantly modified by Republican Senate Majority Leader Tom Tacobo, a doctor who has expressed concern about the high suicide rate among transgender youth.
The committee rejected a request from Democratic Representative Mike Pushkin to allow minors who are already undergoing hormone treatment or puberty blockers to continue taking them.
The ACLU of West Virginia has already threatened legal action if the amendment passes.
BREAKING: House Health has introduced HB 5297, a sweeping ban on medically necessary gender-affirming care for minors.
If this bill becomes law, we will see the state in court.
– ACLU of WV (@ACLU_WV) February 23, 2024
“If this bill becomes law, we will see the state in court,” the organization wrote in a statement on X’s website.
