The party of “small government” has once again decided that overreach doesn’t apply to sticking its grubby little fingers underneath your clothing.
Republicans in the Oklahoma House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 2177, which effectively bans transgender health care. It will be sent to the Senate, and, if approved there, to Kevin’s desk.
“This bill will protect children and parents from being pressured into agreeing to harmful experimental transition procedures by prohibiting the administration of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries on minors while still allowing for critical mental health care,” the bill’s author, Rep. Kevin West (R-Moore), told The Oklahoman.
Sure, you can make the argument that this bill is intended to allow persons to reach legal adulthood before making life-altering, permanent decisions about their bodies while they are still developing, but the next section lays bare the actual intentions.
“It shall be prohibited for any public funds in this state to be directly or indirectly used, granted, paid, or distributed to any entity, organization, or individual for the provision of the services … to any minor or adult. No facility that receives public funds shall allow its staff or facilities to be used to perform the services … on any minor or adult. Any violation of this section shall result in the loss of public funding to the entity, organization, or individual for a minimum of one (1) year,” the bill reads.
A UCLA study released last year concluded that more than 1.6 million people in the United States identify as transgender or nonbinary, but an Oklahoma Gazette study has found that 80 Republicans of questionable intelligence are threatening medical doctors acting within their realm of expertise and their patients’ wellbeing for political points with their base.
