Georgia Bans Cross-Sex Hormones, Surgeries For Children

Georgia Bans Cross-Sex Hormones, Surgeries For Children

Laurel Duggan on March 23, 2023

Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation Thursday banning the use of cross-sex hormones and surgeries for minors for the purpose of gender transitions.

The bill’s passage comes amid a push from red states to restrict child gender transitions, though unlike several similar bills in other states, this legislation does not restrict puberty blockers. An earlier version of the bill from the Georgia House barred puberty blockers, but this provision was not included in the final version.

“Today, I signed SB 140 into law to ensure we protect the health and wellbeing of Georgia’s children,” Kemp wrote. “I appreciate the many hours of respectful debate and deliberation by members of the General Assembly that resulted in final passage of this bill. As Georgians, parents, and elected leaders, it is our highest responsibility to safeguard the bright, promising futures of our kids — and SB 140 takes an important step in fulfilling that mission.”

The American Clvil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Georgia has pledged to use every legal means possible to challenge the law, which it said “[denied] trans youth the gender-affirming they need”; child sex change advocates often portray the procedures as medically necessary.

Punishments for those who violate the new law will include the revocation of the medical institution’s permit. The legislation allows hormones and surgeries to be used in cases outside of gender dysphoria in which the procedures are deemed to be medically necessary, such as in cases of chromosomal or genital abnormalities.

Several other Republican-led states have cracked down on child sex changes in recent months as public awareness grows about the procedures.