Today the South Dakota Legislature forwarded a bill to the State House floor (HB 1057) that attacks health care of transgender children in the State. It has been scheduled for a floor vote on Monday, Jan 27.
Here’s the ACLU-SD’s call on this bill:
The ACLU of South Dakota opposes House Bill 1057, a bill that would criminalize doctors for providing medically necessary care for transgender youth. HB 1057 displays a fundamental ignorance about medical treatment for transgender youth. When it comes to pre-pubescent kids there is no medical intervention of any kind and the life saving care is about social transition. No young kids are being forced into treatment (except kids with intersex traits which the bill specifically allows).
After brave and able opposition this morning at HB 1057s first hearing, it was watered down somewhat by its sponsor:
Changed the penalty from a Class 4 felony (10-year imprisonment) to a Class 1 misdemeanor (1-year imprisonment and/or $2000 fine) Lower the age from 18 to under 16 to which this bill applies Removed non-licensed medical service personnel from the billIt’s still is odius though.