As they say, what’s done in California will soon spread to other states – especially those run by Democrats. Maine lawmakers are trying to emulate the Golden State by pushing legislation to create a sanctuary for children wishing to receive “gender-affirming care” against the wishes of their parents.
The bill would carry profound implications for parental rights and the health of children suffering from gender dysphoria.
The proposed legislation would give Maine’s government temporary emergency jurisdiction over minors from other states that have passed laws prohibiting the use of “gender-affirming care” on children. These kids would be able to undergo significant and potentially irreversible procedures including puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and even intrusive surgeries without the consent of the parents. Fortunately, the measure is being held up due to opposition from Republican state lawmakers.
The Maine Judiciary Committee faced intense scrutiny today as it postponed a Work Session on a controversial bill that would block cops from reuniting children from out-of-state with their parents if they had been brought to Maine to receive sex change drugs or surgeries.
LD 1735, titled “An Act to Safeguard Gender-affirming Health Care,” was introduced by Rep. Laurie Osher (D-Orono).
Osher told the Maine Wire last year she was inspired to introduce the bill after talking with transgender activists who had gotten a similar measure passed in California.
This controversial bill, which has sparked heated debate, aims to prevent the enforcement of laws from other states if a child has been brought to Maine to receive sex change drugs or surgeries.
LD 1735, if passed, would grant Maine temporary emergency jurisdiction over minors from other states who are unable to access gender-affirming health care due to parental or guardian opposition. This includes a range of procedures from the use of breast binders to irreversible drugs and surgeries like mastectomies and castration.
Several GOP officials have spoken out publicly against the bill, arguing that it would violate parental rights and cause significant harm to children suffering from gender dysphoria.
Rep. David Haggan (R-Hampden), a school teacher, expressed vehement opposition to the bill.
“This bill authorizes the kidnapping and massacring of children from other states without parental consent,” Haggan said.
He urged for an immediate rejection of the bill, emphasizing the need for a “compassionate stand in favor of our children’s physical and mental health.”
Rep. Katrina Smith (R-Palermo) joined in the criticism, voicing her alarm over the bill’s implications.
“The state should never place itself above a loving parent and irreparably destroy the reproductive health of a minor child,” Smith said.
Maine’s bill mirrors legislation passed in California last year that would accomplish the same objective: Placing children under the jurisdiction of the state government and providing them with “gender-affirming care.”
As reported by Breitbart, Senate Bill 107, introduced by left-wing state Sen. Scott Wiener (D), offers a range of legal protections for “transgender” kids and their parents who travel to California seeking hormone prescriptions or sex-reassignment surgeries that have been made illegal in other states.
In a signing statement, Newsom called policies restricting gender transition for minors hateful and accused conservative states of attempting to “demonize” transgender youths, as transcribed by Breitbart:
In California we believe in equality and acceptance. We believe that no one should be prosecuted or persecuted for getting the care they need — including gender-affirming care. Parents know what’s best for their kids, and they should be able to make decisions around the health of their children without fear. We must take a stand for parental choice.
This is yet another policy intended to usurp parental rights while advancing progressive gender ideology among children. In essence, it suggests that the government knows what is best for the child and not the parents when dealing with such a personal and complicated issue like gender dysphoria.
What progressives won’t tell you is that these treatments are highly risky and often bring about life-altering results. The science is beginning to show that the “gender-affirming care” model is fraught with dangers that could ruin these children’s lives.
European nations, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and France have backed away from “gender-affirming care” after having embraced the practice for decades due to studies showing that these treatments are problematic. Unfortunately, the United States has not yet caught up in its understanding of gender dysphoria. The rise of the detransitioners has been largely ignored by left-wing media and politicians – but they are still making their presence known through testimonies and lawsuits. But those pushing this progressive agenda appear to be more concerned with advancing an agenda than taking care of children.
