On Wednesday, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb (R-Ind.) signed a bill into law banning sex change surgeries and hormone treatments for underaged children.
As the Daily Caller reports, the new law takes effect on July 1st, at which point all individuals in the state of Indiana under the age of 18 will be forbidden from undergoing so-called “gender-affirming care,” such as genital mutilation surgeries and cross-sex hormones.
“Permanent gender-changing surgeries with lifelong impacts and medically prescribed preparation for such a transition should occur as an adult, not as a minor,” Holcomb said in a statement after signing the law.
“In Indiana, it is now illegal to perform irreversible sex change surgeries on children,” tweeted Congressman Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), the leading candidate for the state’s U.S. Senate seat in 2024. “Hoosiers who are too young to drive shouldn’t be subjected to these permanent and drastic procedures. Proud of our state for leading the way!”
“A child cannot consent to irreversible sex change surgery, and Indiana will no longer allow children to take dangerous drugs with long-term consequences like puberty blockers and hormone therapies in the name of extreme gender theories,” said outgoing Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.), who is retiring to run for governor after Eric Holcomb is term-limited out of office next year. “These kids are clearly having a hard time, and we need to give them compassion and mental health help rather than dangerous, un-tested, unapproved drugs and irreversible surgeries.”
Far-left groups decried the law, claiming that it is “discriminatory” against transgender people, even though there is no such thing.
“It’s a devastating day for our trans community in Indiana. Governor Holcomb today signed a ban on gender-affirming health care for trans youth, ignoring the warnings of parents, medical providers, and transgender youth themselves,” said the far-left American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “We intend to challenge this law in court.”
The movement to ban transgender surgeries and other procedures and accommodations has gained support across the country over the last several years. Dozens of states have passed laws or introduced legislation on the subject, ranging from bans on surgery to banning biological men from competing in women’s sports or using women’s restrooms and locker rooms. Several European countries have also passed laws banning transgender surgeries, including the United Kingdom and Finland.