The U.S. House has passed a bill that would criminalize gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, marking the first time Congress has approved a national ban on this care. The measure passed late Wednesday by a narrow vote of 216 to 211 and now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to fail.
The bill, introduced by far-right Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, would make it a felony for doctors to provide puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or surgeries to patients under 18. Parents who consent to or help their children access care could also face criminal charges and prison time.
According to Representative Mark Takano, chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, “This bill is the most extreme anti-transgender legislation to ever pass through the House of Representatives…This bill is beyond cruel and its passage will forever be a stain on the institution of the United States Congress.” Three Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the bill. LGBTQ+ advocates warn the vote alone could chill care nationwide.
