Sen. Marshall and Rep. LaMalfa Introduce Legislation to Protect Children from Gender Experimentation

(Washington, D.C., March 16, 20201) – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. and Congressman Doug LaMalfa introduced two pieces of legislation to protect children and conscience rights in response to the growing push to normalize early and aggressive medical interventions ranging from puberty-blocking drugs to surgeries for children who identify as transgender. Both the Protecting Children from Experimentation Act and the End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act would protect children and the conscience rights of taxpayers from this radical ideology. Both pieces of legislation are endorsed by: Family Research Council, Heritage Action, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, and American College of Pediatricians, American Principles Project

“Protecting our children from experimental gender reassignment treatments and permanent hormone blockers couldn’t be more important. These medical experiments are not FDA-approved and have irreversible consequences for the health of our kids. It’s immoral and unethical that President Biden has a nominee with a track record of politicizing public health issues, advocating for conversion therapy for pre-pubertal children, and has demonstrated a lack of support for parental consent. The legislation I introduced today will ensure this practice is put to a stop and prevent taxpayers from ever having to foot the bill for these horrific procedures,” said Dr. Marshall.

Congressman LaMalfa said: “Radical ideologues are attempting to normalize medical experimentation with a child’s biological sex under the guise of ‘acceptance’. Vulnerable children are being pushed to undergo experimental treatments, like being injected with puberty-blocking hormones and cross-sex hormones or even surgeries, which have irreversible consequences, such as permanent sterility. Both the Protecting Children from Experimentation Act and the End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act would protect children and taxpayers from paying the high price of these unethical and experimental medical interventions.  Children must be provided with the time and space to develop to maturity rather than being pushed to make life altering decisions, that they may likely later regret.

“The future of our great nation will one day rest upon the shoulders of our children, and it is sickening to see politicians sacrifice their wellbeing for progressive gender ideology. No child should ever be coerced to undergo medically unnecessary, life-altering procedures, nor should any taxpayer be forced to fund these types of procedures. Thank you, Rep. LaMalfa and Senator Marshall, for standing in the breach and working to protect our children.” Said Garrett Bess, Vice President of Government Relations and Communications at Heritage Action for America.

“Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC) agrees children who struggle with identity should be protected from reckless ‘gender reassignment’ medical practices causing serious health risks, irreversible damage, and increasingly, regret.  Minors are incapable of giving informed consent to harmful medical interventions that erode normal brain and body development and can sterilize them for life,” said Doreen Denny, CWALAC Vice President of Government Relations. “Children should be given time to mature, not led down a deceptive path of gender experimentation.  Unfortunately, the Big Gender market, including Planned Parenthood, is more interested in profit than ethical practice. CWALAC applauds Congressman LaMalfa and Senator Marshall’s proposals standing against destructive medical treatments on minors in the name of ‘gender confirmation,’ and the use of federal tax dollars to finance radical gender reassignment interventions.”

“The Protecting Children from Experimentation Act and The End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act are the two most critical pro-child pieces of legislation introduced to date.  Transgender interventions in minors can lead to permanent sterility. No one is born with an opposite-sexed brain, and gender identity can align with biological sex across childhood and adulthood both with and without counseling to treat underlying traumas. The sterilization of emotionally vulnerable youth in any other circumstance would be seen for exactly what it is: eugenics. Rep. LaMalfa and Senator Marshall should be commended for boldly standing against this evil.” Said Michelle Cretella, MD, executive director of the American College of Pediatricians.

“Permanently medicalizing a minor for a psychological condition that usually resolves by adulthood, and doing so based only on a self-diagnosis, is unethical. The Protecting Children from Experimentation Act and The End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act guard already at-risk sexual minority youth from unproven gender affirming therapy (GAT), which is better termed transition affirming fad medicine.  GAT is not proven effective, not proven safe, does not reduce suicides, and is not the international standard of care for gender dysphoric minors.  Senator Marshall and Rep. LaMalfa are bravely championing both science and the defense of vulnerable youth,” said Andre Van Mol, MD, Board-certified family physician and Co-chair, Committee on Adolescent Sexuality, American College of Pediatricians.

“We should be teaching our children to love their bodies just the way they are. Unfortunately, society and too many doctors are scaring parents into putting their children on harmful drugs and even having them undergo surgery to physically alter their bodies. Young girls are “transitioning” at alarming rates. “Influencers” on social media and even some speakers at school assemblies are glamorizing the transgender ideology. Entire friend groups are “transitioning” together. The American Psychiatric Association acknowledges that as many as 88% – 97.8% of children will resolve their feelings of dysphoria. Our children deserve better. We must protect them. FRC is proud to support this legislation introduced by Rep. Doug LaMalfa and Senator Roger Marshall.” said Mary Beth Waddell, Family Research Council Director of Federal Affairs. “Adults need to be protected too. The same ‘affirmative care’ protocols have proven to be harmful regardless of age.  Many former transgender people (or ‘detransitioners’) have been very outspoken about the harms they have endured from going down the road of “gender transition.” Taxpayer dollars should not be used to promote such a harmful social agenda that ignores both the individuals’ underlying issues and biological science. People need to be protected, and this bill accomplishes that. FRC is proud to support this legislation introduced by Rep. Doug LaMalfa and Senator Roger Marshall.”

Terry Schilling, Executive Director American Principles Project (APP) said, “We do not allow minor children to buy alcohol or cigarettes. They cannot place a sports bet, and they are certainly too young to make most medical decisions on their own. So why then do we allow children to undergo unproven, irreversible treatments to ‘change’ their sex? The use of puberty blockers and hormones to ‘reassign’ sex is still highly experimental, so much so that the FDA has not approved these drugs for this purpose. Moreover, the research we do have has revealed these treatments may come with terrible, long-term consequences, including reduced bone density, a higher risk of cancer, and permanent sterilization. It is unconscionable that we would let our children become the guinea pigs of gender ideologues in the medical field. Instead, our first priority for children with gender dysphoria should be to follow the science, which tells us that the vast majority will come to accept their biological sex if given the opportunity. APP is grateful for courageous leaders like Sen. Roger Marshall who are willing to stand up against powerful elites to protect the well-being of children, and we are proud to endorse his legislation which would bring medical sanity back to Washington.”

Background:
The Protecting Children from Experimentation Act would prohibit doctors from performing experimental gender reassignment treatments on children. Puberty-blocking hormones followed by cross-sex hormones can cause irreversible damage to children’s bodies, including an increased risk of cancer and permanent sterilization. This bill provides exceptions for the treatment of patients with medically verifiable sex development disorders. Original cosponsors of this legislation include Senator Mike Braun (IN), Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN), Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS), Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05), Congressman Rick Allen (GA-12), Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Congressman Jody Hice (GA-10), Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15), Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17), Congressman Trent Kelly (MS-01), Congressman Jim Jordan (OH-04), Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03), Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14), Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), and Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36).

The End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act would protect taxpayers’ conscience by prohibiting federal funding for gender reassignment surgeries and treatments. This bill provides exceptions for the treatment of patients with medically verifiable sex development disorders. Original cosponsors of this legislation include Senator Mike Braun (IN), Senator Tom Cotton (AR), Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN), Senator Mike Lee (UT), Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS), Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05), Congressman Rick Allen (GA-12), Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Congressman Jody Hice (GA-10), Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15), Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17), Congressman Trent Kelly (MS-01), Congressman Jim Jordan (OH-04), Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03), Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14), Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), and Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36).

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