Alabama just approved a bill that would make it illegal for doctors to treat trans teenagers

• SB-10, a bill that would ban medical care for trans youth, just passed through Alabama's Senate Health Committee.
• It would make prescribing HRT or hormone blockers to trans people under 18 years old punishable with 10 years in prison.
• If passed, it would make Alabama the first US state to officially ban transitionary care for youth.

Alabama's Senate Health Committee approved a bill that would make providing transgender minors with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or puberty blockers a felony with an 11-2 vote in favor of the legislation.

SB-10, the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, would punish doctors for providing transitionary care to transgender youth with up to 10 years in prison.

If passed through the State Senate and House of Representatives, SB-10 would make Alabama the first US state to enact an official transgender medical ban.

The ban is one of eight anti-trans pieces of legislation being considered by state legislatures across the country this week.

Medical experts and transgender advocates warn criminalizing transgender medical care could lead to a spike in suicides and mental health problems among trans youth.

"All of these measures run counter to medical science, prevailing standards of treatment for transgender youth, and basic human dignity. Research has shown that transgender youth have the best outcomes when they are affirmed in their gender identity through supportive families, medical providers, and communities," stated Alabama's ACLU chapter.

Research that transitionary care saves lives

There is no shortage of studies finding that transgender youth suffer from disproportionate rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations. This is in large part due to gender dysphoria, a deep anxiety, discomfort, and pain caused by someone's body not corresponding with their gender.

Going through puberty and growing unwanted body hair, breasts, or muscles can be traumatic for trans youth and trigger more intense forms of dysphoria. Doctors typically prescribe a medication commonly called hormone blockers to press pause on puberty for trans youth until they decide to go on HRT or not later in life.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists medical best practices advise physicians to prescribe hormone blockers to trans youth until they turn 16, in which a child and their parents can decide if HRT would be the next best step.

Advocates say prohibiting these treatments goes directly against best care guidelines and research that state transitionary care is life-saving for trans youth.