Tag: Transgender Youth

Reporter Roundtable Explores Health Legislation

On this episode of The Legislature Today, there have been a number of health-related issues discussed this legislative session – from gender-affirming care, to PEIA coverage and foster care. For this week’s reporter roundtable, Chris Schulz speaks with WVPB’s Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice and Allen Siegler from Mountain State Spotlight.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, there have been a number of health-related issues discussed this legislative session – from gender-affirming care, to PEIA coverage and foster care. For this week’s reporter roundtable, Chris Schulz speaks with WVPB’s Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice and Allen Siegler from Mountain State Spotlight.

Also, the West Virginia House of Delegates approved House Bill 2007 on Friday. The legislation would limit gender-affirming medical treatments and surgeries for transgender youth. HB 2007 passed on a vote of 84 to 10. It now goes to the Senate.

The Senate took up two bills Friday relating to gambling in the state, and two of the bills considered on third reading in the House dealt with immigration laws and county financial transparency.

Finally, the Senate Finance Committee spent the first several weeks of the session hearing budgetary presentations from every department of state government. But Friday morning, the committee turned its attention to how the last of the state’s coronavirus relief funds were spent. Chris Schulz has this story.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

House Passes Bill Limiting Medical Care For Transgender Youth

Two House committees approved HB 2007. A public hearing was held on the bill Thursday. On Friday, the chamber voted on final passage.

The West Virginia House of Delegates approved a bill Friday to limit gender-affirming treatments and surgeries for transgender youth.

Two House committees approved House Bill 2007. A public hearing was held on the bill Thursday. On Friday, the chamber voted on final passage.

Prior to the vote, Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, pressed Del. Moore Capito, R-Kanawha, and the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, for evidence to support the bill.

“Can you provide us with any evidence from Judiciary Committee or otherwise that these surgeries are even taking place in West Virginia?” Fluharty asked.

“We have no, there was no testimony provided in committee that there are surgeries taking place,” Capito replied.

Other opponents of HB 2007 noted that it expanded beyond its original purpose of restricting surgeries for minors. It also would ban hormone treatments and puberty blockers.

Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, argued that would have a negative impact on the mental health of transgender youth, who have higher rates of depression and suicide than their peers.

“Our trans youth are attempting suicide more than 10 times as often as other kids,” he said. “There’s a crisis. And evidence-based health care is helping address this crisis. It’s about keeping kids alive so they can make it to adulthood and be productive members of society.”

Supporters, such as Del. Geno Chiarelli, R-Monongalia, said HB 2007 was the kind of legislation voters wanted.

“This body effectively banned abortion last year, and now there’s more of us than there were before,” he said. “There’s a clear appetite for this kind of conservative legislation, and I urge you to vote yes.”

HB 2007 passed on a vote of 84 to 10. It now heads to the West Virginia Senate.

A Look At Education Challenges And Proposals

On this episode of The Legislature Today, from school safety to student success, there has already been a lot of discussion around the state’s educational system this legislative session. Education Reporter Chris Schulz sat down with two West Virginia teachers to discuss the state of our schools and some of the proposed changes.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, from school safety to student success, there has already been a lot of discussion around the state’s educational system this legislative session. Education Reporter Chris Schulz sat down with two West Virginia teachers to discuss the state of our schools and some of the proposed changes.

Also, more than 70 opponents of House Bill 2007 testified in the West Virginia House of Delegates Thursday morning. Only two witnesses spoke in support. The bill would limit gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth.

Following that nearly two-hour public hearing, House Democrats tried to amend the bill. One amendment would have forbidden all elective surgeries, like rhinoplasty or breast augmentation. This amendment and another Democrat-proposed amendment failed along party lines.

Finally, a second public hearing in the House pushed back against House Bill 2883, which would deliver $500 million in COVID-19 relief funds to the governor for economic development projects.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to view it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Lawmakers Hear From Medical Experts In Public Hearing On Trans Bill

It was the first time medical experts testified on a bill that would restrict gender-affirming treatments for transgender youth.

The West Virginia House of Delegates held a public hearing Thursday on House Bill 2007. It was the first time medical experts testified on a bill that would restrict gender-affirming treatments for transgender youth.

Several state legislatures have introduced bills that limit surgery and hormone therapy for anyone under 18.

Major medical associations oppose such legislation, including HB 2007.

“The bill is dangerous,” said Dr. Allison Holstein, a representative from the American Academy of Pediatrics in West Virginia. “It’s an intrusion on the physician-patient relationship and the ability of physicians to provide care that is evidence-based for our patients.”

The bill’s supporters say its purpose is to protect young people from irreversible harm. But health professionals who work with transgender youth said the bill would do more harm than good. That includes Hannah McCoy, a crisis counselor.

“In my time as a crisis counselor, I heard countless pleas from trans kids begging to be seen, begging to be supported, begging to be affirmed in their identity, so much so that they felt death was their only escape,” McCoy said. “These children are tired and we are failing them.”

Dr. Jonathan Lucas-Neel practices family medicine at Charleston Area Medical Center. He said gender-affirming care is well supported by medicine.

“Creating laws that serve to stand between doctors and their patients only decrease access to care, only frighten people from seeking out medical care. This bill makes our state a more dangerous place and not a healthier one,” Lucas-Neel said. “Gender affirming care is based upon years of evidence and it is life saving.”

One supporter of HB 2007, Braden Roten, noted the nationwide push for similar legislation.

“I just want to say that this, despite the crowd opposing this bill, this is a red state,” he said. “And there’s a big push in the conservative movement for this bill. So if you don’t vote for this bill, we will vote you out.”

Samuel Green, coordinator for Marshall University’s suicide prevention organization and vice president of Huntington Pride, said the state’s transgender youth would remember, too.

“We know that West Virginia has the highest rate of trans youth in the nation,” Green said. “And you will have to reckon with them whenever they become voting age.”

But even opponents conceded HB 2007 is likely to pass the House.

House Advances More Restrictive Transgender Youth Medical Care Bill

The House Judiciary Committee, along party lines, approved a bill that not only limits gender-affirming surgeries for anyone under 18, but also restricts hormone therapy and puberty blockers.

West Virginia lawmakers advanced an even more restrictive bill Monday on medical care for transgender youth.

The House Judiciary Committee, along party lines, approved a bill that not only limits gender-affirming surgeries for anyone under 18, but also restricts hormone therapy and puberty blockers.

That version of House Bill 2007 goes farther than the one considered earlier in the House Committee on Health and Human Resources and matches legislation introduced in other Republican-controlled states.

A public hearing will be held on HB 2007 on Thursday at 9 a.m.

Leading medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, oppose such measures.

Only the House Judiciary Committee’s three Democrats opposed HB 2007 in its revised form. No expert witnesses were called to testify.

Gender-affirming surgeries are rare for minors, but hormone therapies and puberty blockers are commonly used.

HB 2007 has no exceptions for parents or doctors to make medical decisions for minors.

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