G.O.P. Arkansas Governor Vetoes Anti-Transgender Bill

Proponents of Arkansas law say it would protect young people from irreversible medical treatments, and the text by H.B. 1570 claims – contrary to the consensus of medical professionals – that “the risks of sex reassignment procedures at this stage of the clinical investigation of these procedures far outweigh the benefits”.

Medical research shows the opposite.

In a 2019 statement against laws restricting minors ‘access to gender-affirming treatment, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry said, “Blocking access to timely care has been shown to reduce adolescents’ risk of suicidal ideation and others negative mental health outcomes increased. ”

In a broader sense, the American Psychiatric Association said in an official position paper in 2018 that there is “significant and longstanding medical and psychiatric literature” that shows “clear benefits of medical and surgical interventions” for transgender people.

Sam Brinton, vice president of law and government affairs, L.G.B.T.Q. Suicide prevention organization Trevor Project said that people who reached out to the group during mental crisis often cited discrimination and public expressions of anti-trans sentiments.

“If this discrimination is given an invoice number, it can be devastating,” said Mx. Brinton cited research showing that young transsexuals and non-binary individuals who reported having been discriminated against based on their gender identity were twice as likely to attempt suicide and that those who reported having at least one “gender-affirming room” – this could be a doctor’s office – 25 percent fewer suicide attempts in the past year.

Mr Hutchinson’s veto was noticeable not only because he is a Republican, but also because he signed laws just last month that would allow doctors to refuse treatment to people on the basis of religious or moral objections, and who made it transgender. Women and girls were banned from competing on women’s sports teams in high school or college. (Such measures have become popular with conservative lawmakers, who introduced them in more than two dozen states this year.)

He argued that H.B. 1570 was “exaggerated, extreme and has no grandfather for the young people currently on hormone therapy” and said, “The state should not assume that it is jumping into the middle of all medical, human and ethical problems.”