Nebraska lawmakers are considering two gender-related bills; one that bans gender change treatments for minors and another that prevents different biological genders from commingling in sports, bathrooms, and locker rooms.
The “Let Them Grow Act” prohibits gender-altering procedures for individuals younger than 19, including surgical and hormone treatments such as puberty-blocking drugs.
“The state has a compelling government interest in protecting the health and safety of its citizens, especially vulnerable children,” the draft bill says.
“Genital and nongenital gender-altering surgeries are generally not recommended for children, although evidence indicates referral for children to have such surgeries are becoming more frequent; and genital and nongenital gender altering surgery includes several irreversible and invasive procedures for biological males and biological females and involves the alteration of biologically healthy and functional body parts.”
Banned nongenital procedures include mastectomy, voice surgery, liposuction, lipofilling, gluteal augmentation, hair reconstruction, facial feminization surgery, pectoral implants, and other procedures.
The measure defines male and female biological characteristics, and makes clear that the rule would not apply to those born with a medically-verifiable disorder of sex development, such as having ambiguous or both biological characteristics.
The “Sports and Spaces Act” defines males and females by the anatomy and chromosomes a person has at birth.
Nebraska Legislature
The measures, introduced this week, are sponsored by Nebraska state Republican Sen. Kathleen Kauth.
For most children exhibiting gender dysphoria, it goes away after puberty, Kauth told The Epoch Times.
“I think all of us can remember the feelings in puberty. No adult I know would ever go back. It’s an uncomfortable time,” Kauth said. “Puberty is a critical time for our bone density, for our physical health, for maturation. And if we interrupt that, you cannot change those interruptions. These are irreversible medical procedures that you hear some of the people talking about it.”
Both bills have more than 20 cosponsors but there is opposition.
State Democratic Sen. Megan Hunt immediately filed motions to indefinitely postpone the bills, calling them, “Attacks on civil rights,” in a Twitter post. The Epoch Times asked Hunt for comment but she did not respond.
Meanwhile, Kauth says that she has received some positive feedback from schools and parents.
“I got a call this morning from a teacher and coach at a school, and he said thank you so much for doing this because we have a transgender teen who doesn’t want to use the transgender locker room, a single space locker room, and wants to use the locker room of the gender they want to be,” Kauth said.
“It’s creating a lot of difficulties because now, you’re saying to all the other students who are in that locker room, your discomfort is OK; this person’s comfort level is the priority.
“That’s not fair to any kid.”
