Tennessee lawmakers in the GOP-dominated Statehouse passed a bill that would make it illegal for adults to help minors access sex reassignment care without parental permission. The legislation has been sent to Governor Bill Lee for his signature. The law would penalize any adult who assists an unemancipated minor in receiving a prohibited medical procedure related to gender identity or transitioning, classifying the crime as a felony. Last week, the state senate passed a similar bill targeting adults who assist minors in obtaining abortions without parental consent.
Governor Lee, a Republican, has not commented on either bill, but supporters are confident that he will sign them into law. Tennessee Democrats opposed both bills, expressing concerns about their potential broad application. The bills aim to crack down on adults who may assist minors in obtaining sex reassignment care or abortions without parental consent, potentially leading to charges for helping a minor find care or travel to other states for such procedures.
The bill passed in Tennessee is similar to a law in Idaho that targets adults who help minors obtain abortions. If signed into law, Tennessee would be the first state to specifically penalize adults for assisting minors in gender-transition procedures and treatments. A bill under consideration in Maine has also drawn attention, as it would establish the state as a sanctuary for abortions and transgender procedures for minors, shielding providers from certain lawsuits. Republican attorneys general have criticized Maine’s proposed bill, calling it “totalitarian.”
The passing of the bill in Tennessee is part of a larger trend in conservative states to restrict access to transgender procedures and abortions for minors. Critics argue that these laws could have a chilling effect on individuals providing support to minors seeking these services. The Tennessee legislation would make it a felony for adults to assist minors in obtaining sex reassignment care without parental permission, potentially leading to charges for a range of behaviors from mentioning a website with care information to arranging travel for the minor.
The bills in Tennessee and other states reflect ongoing debates about minors’ rights to access gender-affirming care and abortions without parental consent. Supporters of the legislation argue that parents should have the final say in these matters, while opponents warn of the potential criminalization of essential support systems for minors. The impact of these laws on the rights and well-being of transgender and pregnant minors remains to be seen, but they are part of a broader political and legal landscape that continues to shift in response to changing social norms and beliefs.
