The mayor of Boise, Idaho said recently that the State House Bill that bans genital mutilation surgeries and mastectomies for minors “endangers kids in Boise” and “across Idaho.”
The bill, titled House Bill 657 “Relating to Genital Mutilation of a Child,” makes it a felony to give children surgeries that sterilize or mutilate children, including through surgeries such as vaginoplasties, castrations, mastectomies, or providing medications that “induce profound morphologic changes in the genital of a child or induce transient or permanent infertility,” and “removing any otherwise healthy or non diseased body part or tissue.”
Mayor Lauren McLean said that she is ” committed to ensuring every kid in Boise has a chance to grow up safe,” saying that House Bill 675 “does the opposite and not only endangers kids in Boise but across Idaho,” she told Idaho News.
“Transgender youth are under an incredible amount of stress that often leads to depression and suicide. Age-appropriate, medically necessary, best practice gender-affirming health care can save their lives,” she said.
“But this bill would make that care illegal and attempts to question and scrutinize the very existence of transgender youth, who are our family members, friends, and neighbors. I hope the Idaho Senate respects these young people, their parents, and their doctors enough to allow them to make these decisions themselves without legislative interference,” she continued. “Boise is a welcoming city. Legislation like this does not have a place in this community or in this state.”
The author of the bill, Rep. Bruce Skaug, had an opposite opinion of course, sticking with his belief that children should not be mutilated, saying: “This bill is about protecting children which is a legitimate state interest, we do that all of the time.”
“We need to stop sterilizing and mutilating children under the age of 18. This bill is not about the adults or adult trans community at all; it is about children,” he said.
“If we do not allow minors to get tattoos, smoke cigarettes, and drink alcohol or sign legal contracts why would we allow them to make decisions to cut away organs based on their feelings during puberty time,” Skaug said. “That’s wrong, they’re not ready for that,” he told KTVB.
Joe Biden recently condemned Texas Governor Greg Abbott for using state laws to child protective services investigate families who seek medical gender transitions.
“The Governor of Texas has directed state officials to open child abuse investigations into families simply because they have provided access to affirming care for their children. This is government overreach at its worst. Like so many anti-transgender attacks proliferating in states across the country, the Governor’s actions callously threaten to harm children and their families just to score political points. These actions are terrifying many families in Texas and beyond. And they must stop,” he said.
