Republican lawmakers in Michigan have introduced a bill that would categorize gender transition surgeries and other procedures on minors as first-degree child abuse.
House Bill No. 6454 was introduced on October 11 by state reps Ryan Berman, Steve Carra, Luke Meerman, Beau LaFave and Steve Marino. The bill would prohibit a child from undergoing transition surgeries or taking cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers.
According to CBN News, the bill also says that anyone who “knowingly or intentionally consents to, obtains, or assists with a gender transition procedure for a child” would be subject to consequences.
“For purposes of this subdivision only, ‘person’ means a child’s parent or guardian or any other person who cares for, has custody of, has authority over a child, regardless of the length of time that a child is cared for, in the custody of, or subject to the authority of that person, or a physician or other licensed medical professional,” the proposal reads.
“Child abuse in the first degree is a felony punishable by imprisonment for life or any term of years,” it added.
In a statement to The Hill, LaFave contended that it’s “logically incoherent” for minors to undergo these kinds of surgeries and therapies when they cannot even legally consent to sex.”
“People are abusing these children,” he said. “The idea that we would be making potentially life-altering changes to 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15-year-old kids when it is illegal for them to have sex is insane. I mean, they’re not responsible enough to smoke a cigarette until they’re 21.”
LaFave believes that most of his Republican colleagues would support the bill. He also says that while most state Democrats would agree with him, they probably wouldn’t back the legislation since it would jeopardize their political careers.
Republicans currently hold a slight three-seat majority in the Michigan state House.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Vladimir Vladimirov
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
