The House of Delegates agreed with changes to a controversial gender dysphoria treatment bill affecting minors, allowing treatment with medication under narrowly-tailored circumstances.
The original version of House Bill 2007, “Prohibiting certain medical practices,” focused on irreversible gender-affirming surgery. A revised version also included gender-altering medication.
On Friday evening, following a long and intense debate, senators agreed to amendment to change the way the bill deals with medicinal treatment.
That’s what delegates agreed to on Saturday, the final day of the regular legislative session. Delegates accepted the change and voted 88-10 for final passage of the bill.
The amendment offered by Senator Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, indicates treatment with medication would be allowed:
- if a minor has been diagnosed as suffering from severe gender dysphoria by no fewer than two medical or mental health providers, with at least one having expertise in adolescent medicine
- if they express written opinions that the treatment is medically necessary to limit self-harm or harm to others
- that the minor and the minor’s parents or legal guardians agree
- and, if medications are used, the lowest dose necessary would be used just to help with the mental condition, not for gender alteration.
“I agree that surgery should not be done on these individuals and also agree that there shouldn’t be super physiologic doses of these medicines that you’re just trying to create some type of gender change,” said Takubo, a pulmonologist, as he spoke in support of the amendment on Friday night.
“This bill again has very strict guardrails and helps physicians treat individuals in this state for the mental conditions that they have.”
As the House considered the changes on Saturday, Delegate Ric Griffith spoke in support of allowing medicinal treatment for youths experiencing gender dysphoria.
“These young people have not chosen their lot,” said Griffith, D-Wayne. “This is a very narrow allowance when a child could potentially be suicidal and it’s been diagnosed.”
Griffith acknowledged the political sensitivity of the bill. “Which is more important, these children or the perceptions of our voters?” he said.
Delegate Danielle Walker, D-Monongalia, said the bill singles out minors going through gender dysphoria for political reasons. She was among the votes against the bill.
“Where is it acceptable when we are reducing healthcare? Why do we keep attacking marginalized and minorities in this state? It’s discrimination by your government, the people that are supposed to protect your democracy and freedom. Again, we tell parents and patients, ‘We don’t respect you. You don’t know what you’re talking about.’
“I am sick of the attacks of my queer community,” Walker said, saying that this bill focuses on transgender people, similarly to a bill passed a couple of years ago and affecting athletic eligibility of transgender students.
“There’s a specific attack on transgender youth. You don’t want them in sports. They exist. No matter what bill you pass, you will not erase their existence. When it comes to children, not on my watch. And I’m ready to fight every day.”