On Friday, Montana joined multiple other conservative states in banning so-called ‘gender-affirming care’ for minors.

While Montana is an overwhelmingly red state, the ban did not come without controversy as protesters and a member of the Montana House of Representatives caused a disturbance prior to its passage.

Democratic Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr was banned from the House floor for statements she made in relation to the bill where she told Republican representatives that there was ‘blood on their hands’ for supporting the ban.

Republican Governor Greg Gianforte said that it was ‘right and appropriate’ to protect minors from ‘life-altering’ treatments that were not medically sound.

Montana is now the 15th state to ban gender-affirming care for minors while others have restricted it.

European countries such as Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Finland have also recently made moves to restrict gender-affirming care for minors as studies in Europe have shown that the chance of it benefitting minor patients is low.

While Gianforte supported the legislation and signed it in to law, he reportedly said that “Montanans who struggle with their gender identity deserve love, compassion, and respect.”

The Post Millenial Reports–

Montana becomes the latest state to ban “gender affirming care” for minors. On Friday, Governor Greg Gianforte (R) signed Senate Bill 99 (the Youth Health Protection Act) following previously requested amendments to define “male” and “female.”

The bill stated that no synthetic drug may be used to suppress the production of testosterone in males or estrogen in females in order to address a minor’s perception that their gender is not the same as their sex. It also listed the surgical procedures a doctor may not perform on minors in the state. SB 99 did make an exception for those diagnosed with intersex conditions.

The bill also described what ramifications health care professionals face for violation of the law. It said that they will have “engaged in unprofessional conduct and is subject to discipline by the appropriate licensing entity or disciplinary review board with competent jurisdiction in this state. That discipline must include suspension of the ability to administer health care or practice medicine for at least 1 year.”

 

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