SPLC Action Fund Statement on Alabama Anti-Trans Youth Bill (HB 1)

Today, the Alabama House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to approve House Bill 1, which effectively bans gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. This bill removes control of vital health decisions from transgender youth and their families, will criminalize the medical professionals who treat them, and add another layer of legal responsibility for educators and school personnel who will be forced to report a child’s expressions of gender dysphoria to their parents. House Bill 1 could go before the full House for debate at any time.

The following statement is from Scott McCoy, SPLC interim deputy director, LGBTQ Rights & Special Litigation:

“Today, the Alabama House Judiciary Committee showed complete disregard for transgender youth and their families by moving forward a bill that presents one of the most extreme political attacks on transgender people in recent memory.

“We are disappointed that, despite reservations expressed by committee members, House Bill 1 is moving forward, particularly after the heart-wrenching testimony during last week’s public hearing by Sgt. David Fuller. This legislation disregards the medical needs of transgender children and the hard choices that their families make in their best interest. It would criminalize the very doctors that so many families turn to in their times of need. The last place for governmental overreach is at the bridge of personal medical decisions and the advice of trained professionals.

“Aside from taking healthcare decisions away from families, it also adds another layer of legal responsibility for educators and school personnel, who would be required to report a child’s expressions of gender dysphoria to their parents. Suicide rates among transgender youth are significantly higher than their peers. Requiring a math teacher or coach – who may be the child’s only trusted adult mentor – to violate the child’s trust could have devastating consequences.

“Being a kid is hard enough. Transgender kids do not need politicians working against them, making life harder. We implore the Alabama legislature to reconsider and not insert themselves into the personal decisions of parents and their children.”