West Virginia senators are moving to further restrict treatment options for minors experiencing gender dysphoria.
This marks the third time in three years that West Virginia lawmakers have focused on the issue, including passage of a 2023 bill that banned gender surgery for minors but continued to allow treatment with medication under narrowly-tailored circumstances.
Now senators are considering an even more restrictive bill. The Senate Health Committee debated and advanced the legislation on Tuesday afternoon. The bill now goes to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further consideration.
Debate over Senate Bill 299 focused on whether minors going through crisis about their gender identity are mature enough to make life-changing decisions versus whether those same minors could be at increased risk for self-harm or suicide if they conclude there is no effective treatment available for what they are going through.
SB 299 seeks to regulate medical practices related to gender transition for people under age 18. The bill would forbid the use of specific kinds of medication to be used for gender transition for minors.
Violations are considered unprofessional conduct and could be subject to discipline by licensing agencies — with legal recourse available, including actions by the Attorney General.
If passed, the bill could be in effect later this year.
Senator Joey Garcia, D-Marion, proposed an amendment to allow continued medical treatment for minor patients who already receive it.
“So this grandfather clause — if this is going to get rid of this type of treatment, at least it’s not going to cause an increase in suicidality and the possible risk of death from suicide for a number of people who are currently receiving this treatment, and it’s benefiting them.”
The committee voted down the amendment.
Senator Chris Rose, the lead sponsor of the bill, opposed it and said West Virginia needs strict rules.
“The reason this bill is necessary in the first place is there’s never a medically necessary reason to trans a child,” Rose said.
“There’s never a medically necessary reason to chemically castrate or sterilize a child for a mental illness. You get them mental health, there is therapy for that, but never is it justifiable to permanently alterate their body with something that’s irreversible.”
Garcia acknowledged that it’s hard for most people to understand gender dysphoria, but he said his aim is to lower the risk of death by suicide for young people dealing with the condition.
“I am not a medical expert, but I rely on the people who are and I rely on the stories of the people in my district and the people across the state of West Virginia who feel like this has helped them,” he said. “And if it has, who am I and who is this government to say any different.”