INDIANAPOLIS — After hours of testimony this morning, the House Public Health Committee passed a bill that would prohibit physicians or practitioners from knowingly providing gender transition procedures to a minor and bans other gender affirming care like puberty blockers and hormone therapy.
Senate Bill 480 was passed 8-5 and will head to the full House now. If passed there, the bill will head to Governor Eric Holcomb's desk.
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On Republican in the committee voted against the bill. All other votes were along party lines.
The bill passed the Senate 36-12 before coming to the committee.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the bill on April 5.
Sen. Mike Braun released a statement in support of Gov. Holcomb’s decision to sign the gender transition bill.
“A child cannot consent to irreversible sex change surgery, and Indiana will no longer allow children to take dangerous drugs with long-term consequences like puberty blockers and hormone therapies in the name of extreme gender theories. These kids are clearly having a hard time, and we need to give them compassion and mental health help rather than dangerous, un-tested, unapproved drugs and irreversible surgeries," Braun's statement said.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is also ready to defend SB 480.
“Signing the bill that protects our children from irreversible and damaging decisions was the right move by the governor," Rokita said. "Banning these experimental procedures is critical for the health and wellbeing of future generations. My office is thankful for the General Assembly’s hard work to ensure this got across the finish line. We are ready to defend it in court.”
However, advocacy groups have made it clear that the fight is not yet over.
“This is a dark day in Hoosier history,” said LaKimba DeSadier, Indiana State Director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. “How dare Gov. Holcomb and the elected leaders of this state turn their backs on trans kids. Allowing SB 480 to become law is a devastating blow to the people of Indiana and their access to life-saving care. Gender affirming care for youth is safe, common and lifesaving. SB 480 is an atrocious, stigmatizing and medically unjustified political move not representative of Hoosier values. To our trans community: SB 480 will not erase you. We see you; we love you and we will never stop fighting for you.”
