CNN
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South Dakota Washington is set to ban nearly all types of gender-affirming treatment for transgender minors, after proposed legislation swept its way through its state legislature.
The state Senate on Thursday passed a House bill banning surgical and non-surgical gender-confirmation treatment for minors by a 30-4 vote, moving the legislation to Gov. Christi Noem’s desk. Noem will sign the bill into law, a spokesman for the Republican governor told CNN on Friday.
The law prohibits the use of drugs that block puberty, as well as sex hormones and sex change surgery in patients under the age of 18.
Opponents of the measure say it would be harmful to transgender children and is an intrusion by the government into medical decisions.
Democratic State Sen. Liz Larson announced her opposition, saying, “Surgery—err—surgery is not happening in South Dakota.” “I don’t know about you, but I don’t need the state legislature when I’m in the doctor’s office.”
Susan Williams, head of the Transgender Advocacy group Transformation Project Advocacy Network in South Dakota, condemned the measure.
“Our community is grieving. Our community is angry. Worst of all, our community is scared,” Williams wrote in a post on her group facebook page, “I feel betrayed by the elected officials who are supposed to protect my family, who voted against us.”
State Sen. Tim Reed, a Republican, offered an amendment that would lift the ban on puberty blockers, arguing that some minors need them for reasons other than gender transition. But his amendment failed by voice vote.
“Puberty blockers can calm a child’s anxiety enough that counseling can begin,” Reid said. “Blockers have a place in helping families navigate an extremely difficult situation.”
Proponents of the law say that treatment of minors should be strictly limited to mental health counseling. A sponsor of the legislation, Republican State Sen. Al Novstrup, said, “We care deeply about children who are struggling with their identity and want to provide them with truly meaningful help, not permanent physical harm.”
South Dakota is one of several Republican-led states that have been proposing — and pushing — anti-trans measures in recent years. Last February, South Dakota became the first state to do so. Reject transgender women and girls Competing on sports teams corresponding to their gender in recognized schools and colleges.
more recently, Utah passed a law Last month banned hormone treatments and surgical procedures for minors seeking gender-affirming care.