On March 29, Arkansas became the first state in the US to pass a bill that will keep doctors from providing gender-affirming health care to trans youth in the state.
The Arkansas ACLU and many organizations have worked hard to rally against HB 1570, the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act. They believe this is one of the most harmful pieces of legislation targeting the LGBTQ community in some time.
The state House of Representatives passed the bill earlier this month. The Arkansas state Senate passed the bill passed 28-7. The bill prohibits doctors from providing gender-confirming hormone treatment or surgery to minors. Doctors also cannot refer them to other providers for the treatment. And if that's not enough, the anti-trans bill also allows private insurers to refuse to cover gender-affirming care for trans people of any age.
On March 29, Arkansas took a dangerous step toward taking health care away from transgender youth in the state. HB 1570, the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act, passed 28-7 in the state Senate. Next, the bill will head to Governor Asa Hutchinson, where it's expected to be signed.
The bill has been rallied against by many civil rights organizations, as well as child welfare groups. They've highlighted the dangers that trans youth face without access to gender-confirming hormone treatment or surgery, which minors will not be able to get once this bill is law.
Studies find that trans youth who don't have access to these medical services experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide than those who receive medical support, as well as support from their family and friends. These studies have also found that the younger youth are when they have access to these services, the better their mental health fares.
"There is no sugarcoating this: this bill is another brazen attempt to make it easier to discriminate against people and deny Arkansans the health care services they need," ACLU of Arkansas executive director Holly Dickson said in a statement.
"Discrimination on the basis of sex – including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity – is a violation of federal law, and so we'll be watching and working to ensure no Arkansan is denied life-saving health services because of who they are."
While many people are disheartened, the fight for trans rights in Arkansas continues. The governor has until Friday to sign the bill, and organizations are rallying supporters to contact him, urging against it.
Arkansas is far from the only state fighting for trans rights this year. This year, 28 states will vote on anti-trans legislation. For example, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas all plan to vote on bills that would prohibit trans girls and women from competing in school sports that honor their identity.
As these harmful pieces of legislation come up, trans people around the country need allies to step up and do their part more than ever. The impact of keeping health care from anyone can be catastrophic, a lesson so many people learned during the health crisis. Should the bill be signed, the ACLU will continue to fight it in the court system.
"Medical decisions belong to trans youth, their parents, and their doctor – not the government," Holly Dickson noted.
"This bill flies in the face of common decency, basic human rights, and the advice of every major medical association – not to mention federal law. What could possibly be more cruel than trying to take away a child's access to the care that could save their life?"
