North Dakota Bans Transgender Treatment for Minors

North Dakota has become the latest state to prohibit gender-related medical interventions for minors, with GOP Governor Doug Burgum signing House Bill 1254 into law on Wednesday, NBC News reports.

The legislation imposes a felony charge on doctors who perform sex-change surgeries on children, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.

Healthcare providers who administer sex-change medications to minors face up to 360 days in prison and $3,000 in fines.

According to a Thursday statement from Governor Burgum, the bill was designed with the intention of “protecting children from the life-altering ramifications of gender reassignment surgeries.”

The legislation allows for medication treatment for early onset puberty and other rare circumstances, provided parental consent is given.

Additionally, minors currently receiving gender-affirming care will still be able to access treatment.

Burgum emphasized the need for compassion and understanding in ongoing discussions around these complex medical policies.

“Going forward, thoughtful debate around these complex medical policies should demonstrate compassion and understanding for all North Dakota youth and their families,” he said.

Supporters of the bill have expressed concerns about children potentially changing their minds after undergoing such treatments, NBC notes.

Meanwhile, The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of North Dakota has criticized the new law as a “vast government overreach that undermines the fundamental rights of parents.”

North Dakota now joins 13 other states, including Alabama, Oklahoma, and Utah, that have enacted similar bans.

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