Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Tennessee Lawmakers Pass Bill Criminalizing Adults Assisting Minors in Gender-Affirming Care
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 3 weeks ago on
April 25, 2024

Tennessee's GOP-controlled Statehouse on Thursday gave their final approval to legislation criminalizing adults who help minors receive gender-affirming care without parental consent. (AP File)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s GOP-controlled Statehouse on Thursday gave their final approval to legislation criminalizing adults who help minors receive gender-affirming care without parental consent, clearing the way for the first-in-the-nation proposal to be sent to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.

The bill mirrors almost the same language from a so-called “anti-abortion trafficking” proposal Tennessee Republican lawmakers approved just a day prior. In that version, supporters are hoping to stop adults from helping young people obtain abortions without permission from their parents or guardians.

Lee, a Republican, hasn’t publicly commented on either bill but supporters are confident the governor will sign them into law. Lee eagerly approved both the state’s sweeping abortion ban and the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for children. He has also never issued a veto during his time as governor.

While the Republican supermajority touted the proposed statutes necessary to protect parental rights, critics warned about the possible broad application. Violations could range from talking to an adolescent about a website on where to find care to helping that young person travel to another state with looser restrictions on gender-affirming care services.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, Tennessee has enacted more anti-LGBTQ+ laws more than any other state since 2015, identifying more than 20 bills that advanced out of the Legislature over the past few months.

This includes sending Gov. Lee a bill to ban spending state money on hormone therapy or sex reassignment procedures for inmates — though it would not apply to state inmates currently receiving hormone therapy — and requiring public school employees to out transgender students to their parents.

Tennessee Republicans also passed a measure that would allow LGBTQ+ foster children to be placed with families that hold anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs. Lee signed the bill into law earlier this month.

“Tennessee lawmakers are on the verge of enacting more than twice as many anti-LGBTQ+ laws as any other state, a staggering assault on their own constituents,” Human Rights Campaign Senior Director of Legal Policy Cathryn Oakley said in a statement.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Paul McCartney Becomes Britain’s First Billionaire Musician

DON'T MISS

California Cracked Down After a Crash Killed 13 Farmworkers. Why Are Workers Still Dying on the Road?

DON'T MISS

These Rare Chainsaws Are Worth Big Bucks to Collectors

DON'T MISS

Jewish Lobby Presses California Lawmakers to Combat Antisemitism

DON'T MISS

Opinion: How Urban Renewal Ruined Everything

DON'T MISS

California Wine Squeezed Dry: Insiders Say It’s Time to Pull up Acreage

DON'T MISS

Alabama Mercedes Employees Overwhelmingly Vote Against Joining Union, Slowing UAW Effort in South

DON'T MISS

Stock Market Today: Dow Finishes Above 40,000 to Cap Wall Street’s Latest Winning Week

DON'T MISS

Where Do State Lawmakers Stand on War in Gaza, Campus Protests?

DON'T MISS

High-Speed Rail Now Working to Extend Valley Line to 171 Miles

UP NEXT

California Cracked Down After a Crash Killed 13 Farmworkers. Why Are Workers Still Dying on the Road?

UP NEXT

These Rare Chainsaws Are Worth Big Bucks to Collectors

UP NEXT

Jewish Lobby Presses California Lawmakers to Combat Antisemitism

UP NEXT

Opinion: How Urban Renewal Ruined Everything

UP NEXT

California Wine Squeezed Dry: Insiders Say It’s Time to Pull up Acreage

UP NEXT

Alabama Mercedes Employees Overwhelmingly Vote Against Joining Union, Slowing UAW Effort in South

UP NEXT

Stock Market Today: Dow Finishes Above 40,000 to Cap Wall Street’s Latest Winning Week

UP NEXT

Where Do State Lawmakers Stand on War in Gaza, Campus Protests?

UP NEXT

High-Speed Rail Now Working to Extend Valley Line to 171 Miles

UP NEXT

Beautify Fresno Combines Dog Adoption, Litter Removal in Unique Saturday Event

Jewish Lobby Presses California Lawmakers to Combat Antisemitism

19 hours ago

Opinion: How Urban Renewal Ruined Everything

20 hours ago

California Wine Squeezed Dry: Insiders Say It’s Time to Pull up Acreage

20 hours ago

Alabama Mercedes Employees Overwhelmingly Vote Against Joining Union, Slowing UAW Effort in South

22 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Dow Finishes Above 40,000 to Cap Wall Street’s Latest Winning Week

22 hours ago

Where Do State Lawmakers Stand on War in Gaza, Campus Protests?

22 hours ago

High-Speed Rail Now Working to Extend Valley Line to 171 Miles

23 hours ago

Beautify Fresno Combines Dog Adoption, Litter Removal in Unique Saturday Event

24 hours ago

Bulldogs’ Gilmore Named MW Softball Pitcher of the Year

1 day ago

The Latest | Dozens of Israeli Protesters Attack a Truck in an Apparent Effort to Block Gaza Aid

1 day ago

Paul McCartney Becomes Britain’s First Billionaire Musician

LONDON — Paul McCartney is a billionaire Beatle. According to figures released Friday, the former member of the Fab Four is the first Britis...

6 hours ago

6 hours ago

Paul McCartney Becomes Britain’s First Billionaire Musician

7 hours ago

California Cracked Down After a Crash Killed 13 Farmworkers. Why Are Workers Still Dying on the Road?

8 hours ago

These Rare Chainsaws Are Worth Big Bucks to Collectors

19 hours ago

Jewish Lobby Presses California Lawmakers to Combat Antisemitism

20 hours ago

Opinion: How Urban Renewal Ruined Everything

20 hours ago

California Wine Squeezed Dry: Insiders Say It’s Time to Pull up Acreage

22 hours ago

Alabama Mercedes Employees Overwhelmingly Vote Against Joining Union, Slowing UAW Effort in South

22 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Dow Finishes Above 40,000 to Cap Wall Street’s Latest Winning Week

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend