Advocacy groups are warning that a new Tennessee law restricting doctors from asking minors questions about gender identity could harm LGBTQ+ youth and interfere with medical care. House Bill 1665, signed into law by Governor Bill Lee, takes effect in October. The law requires doctors to notify parents before asking minors about what it defines as sensitive gender-related questions. It also blocks insurance companies and managed care providers from including gender-related questions on medical forms.
The Tennessee Equality Project and Human Rights Campaign criticized the measure in a new report, calling it an unnecessary attack on queer people and a form of medical censorship. The group said, “Everyone should be alarmed by the scale of government control over doctors’ and patients’ speech under this law.” According to the report, supporters of the bill argued that asking children about gender identity could confuse or influence them into being transgender.
However, there is no evidence that asking minors about gender identity causes someone to become transgender. It also argues that such conversations are critical for mental health care and prevention services. No Democrats voted for the legislation.
