The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), an organization that has historically championed free speech, is now advocating for child sex changes across the United States.
The ACLU is currently suing the state of Texas, as it has done in other states, in an effort to protect children from the potential dangers of drugs and surgeries associated with gender transitioning.
The ACLU's lawsuit is based on the argument that the Texas constitution's promise of parental autonomy is being violated. They claim that sex changes are medically necessary for children and teenagers with gender dysphoria, and that parents should have the right to make decisions about their child's medical treatment.
However, the medical community is divided on the issue of treating gender dysphoria in minors. The Worth Professional Association for Transgender Health argues for the medical necessity of such treatments, advocating for no age limits on medical sex change services. They even suggest that "eunuch" can be considered a valid gender identity for children.
Contrarily, many doctors in Europe and the United States believe that the best approach for treating children and teenagers with gender confusion or dysphoria is to wait and observe, avoiding any permanent, life-altering interventions until the child is old enough to provide informed consent.
The Texas bill in question aims to prohibit state medical insurance coverage for child sex changes, including procedures that alter a child's biological sex based on their sex organs, chromosomes, and endogenous profiles. The bill also explicitly forbids surgeries that would sterilize a child or the administration of drugs that induce temporary or permanent infertility.
Although the bill is scheduled to take effect on September 1, the ACLU is hoping to replicate their success in overturning similar laws in Florida. They have filed a lawsuit alongside five families in Texas, whose children range in age from 9 to 16. The families remain anonymous in the suit.
According to the ACLU, this law would not only ban necessary and life-saving medical care for transgender youth in Texas but also cut off access to care for minors who are already undergoing treatment. They argue that the law would force the state to revoke the medical licenses of physicians providing the best standard of care to their transgender patients.
The ACLU has been successful in their efforts to challenge state laws and policies regarding sex changes for children, with victories in Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma, Utah, and Tennessee. They are currently fighting against laws in Idaho and Montana as well.
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