Alabama Senate committee approves bill criminalizing treatments for transgender youth

Monroe Smith wanted the senators to understand that his gender transition was a long process and one that made him a success.

Speaking in opposition to a bill to ban medical treatments for transgender individuals on Wednesday, Smith, a senior at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, described a "slow and steady process" involving rounds of counseling and parental consultation before any medical treatments began.  "Not once in this process," he said, "did he or his family ever feel pressured to engage in the treatments."

"The focus of my evidence-based treatment was not to force anything on me or my family," Smith told the Senate Healthcare Committee on Wednesday. "It was to facilitate my well-being, and offer me a chance to present to the world as I know myself."

But the committee ultimately decided on a voice vote to approve a bill that would make recommending those treatments a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, would make it a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, for any person to prescribe medications like puberty blockers and hormones to those under the age of 19 and prevent surgery that alters a child's sex. The bill would also require school counselors to not "withhold" information from parents about a transgender child.

Shelnutt and other supporters said that they were trying to protect children.

"They might go out of state for these surgeries, but we want to make sure that never happens to these children because there are lifelong consequences to these procedures," Shelnutt said.  

Opponents of the legislation said the bill showed a profound misunderstanding of gender dysphoria and medical care for transgender youth. Dr. Nola Ernest, a pediatrician who practices in Enterprise and Dothan, citing the risk of suicide among transgender youth, said many parents approached her for help. 

"But gratefully, we know the use of medication for gender dysphoria under the guidance of a medical team is an evidence-based standard of care," she said. "And it is often life-saving, not experimental." 

Quentin Bell, a nonprofit director who is a transgender male, said the Legislature should focus on improving education and health care in the state.

"If I have one request for you today is that you see transgender people, especially transgender youth, as members of your community, instead of making them targets," he said.

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Shelnutt's bill is similar to one filed last year, part of a wave of anti-transgender legislation that Republicans pushed through State Houses in 2021. Shelnutt's bill passed the Senate last year and almost came to a floor vote last year, but died on the last day of the session. 

Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill last year banning transgender athletes from playing sports of the sex with which they align. 

The bill moves to the Senate. 

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brian Lyman at 334-240-0185 or blyman@gannett.com.