Bombshell: South Dakota’s GOP Governor Noem Signs Legislation Banning Sex-Change Surgeries, Hormones For Minors

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Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota signed a bill prohibiting healthcare professionals from performing sex reassignment surgeries and prescribing puberty blockers and hormones to minors. 

The bill, HB 1080, “outlaws the prescription and administration of puberty-blocking medication in patients under the age of 18, as well as sex hormones and surgery related to gender transition. Healthcare providers who violate the new law, which takes effect on July 1, risk civil suits and losing their professional or occupational licenses.”

While some see it as controversial, others call it common sense. What other life-altering procedures or practices do we as a country allow minors to have?

Minors are by definition, “not yet old enough to have the rights of an adult.”

And if you ask researchers, they’ll tell you that “most human brains take about 25 years to develop and important developments within the prefrontal cortex and other regions still take place well into” the 20s.

With this knowledge, why would anyone advocate allowing minors to make such decisions as cutting off parts of their bodies?

In a press release regarding HB 1080, Noem said, “South Dakota’s kids are our future. With this legislation, we are protecting kids from harmful, permanent medical procedures. I will always stand up for the next generation of South Dakotans.”

State Senator, Al Novstrup, sponsor of the bill, called the legislation an avenue to provide children who are gender confused with “meaningful help.”

“We care deeply about children who are struggling with their identities and want to provide them with true, meaningful help, not permanent physical damage,” Novstrup said.

CNN has a different view, characterizing gender-affirming care as “medically necessary, evidence-based care.”

In a recent article on cnn.com, the author elaborated on the definition, writing that “gender-affirming care…uses a multidisciplinary approach to help a person transition from their assigned gender – the one the person was designated at birth – to their affirmed gender – the gender by which one wants to be known.”

Many would argue that it is not medically necessary and a rush to affirm something that a child may outgrow.

The ACLU and the ACLU of South Dakota made a joint statement regarding the legislation.

The statement, according to a press release:

“Today is a heartbreaking and tragic day for thousands of South Dakotans and their families. This ban won’t stop South Dakotans from being trans, but it will deny them critical support that helps struggling transgender youth grow up to become thriving transgender adults. But make no mistake–this fight is not over. We will never stop fighting for the right of trans youth to get the love, support, and care that every young person deserves. As much as Governor Noem wants to force these young people to live a lie, we know they are strong enough to live their truth, and we will always fight for communities and policies that protect their freedom to do so.”

As much as those on the side of child mutilation want you to believe that Governor Noem and others like her want trans youth to live a lie, that’s not what this is.

When more and more kids are coming out as trans in a world where those with true gender dysphoria comprise only a very small percentage of the population, there is a more serious underlying issue that should be addressed.