California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law on Thursday that aims to legally protect transgender youth and their parents if they flee a conservative state that has restricted access to gender-affirming care.
The bill seeks to “offer protection” to trans minors and their families “if they are criminalized in their home state,” state Senator Scott Wiener, who introduced the bill, said on Twitter after Newsom signed it.
Wiener said states like Texas and Alabama are “trying to keep these families separate,” referring to efforts in both states to bar parents from providing their trans children with medical care such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy.
In February, Texas Governor Greg Abbott asked the state Department of Family and Protective Services to “conduct a rapid and thorough investigation” of any cases of minors reported to be undergoing “elective procedures for gender transition.” He also encouraged anyone who works with children in the state and ordinary citizens to report the parent providing the care.
Following the directive, the department confirmed it opened at least nine investigations, but state courts have since blocked most of those investigations.
In Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey signed a law making it a crime for medical professionals to provide gender-affirming medical care to people under 19.
“We must especially protect our children from these radical, life-altering drugs and surgeries when they are at a vulnerable stage in life,” Ivey said in a statement at the time.
A judge blocked partial enforcement of the law in May.
Tennessee also passed a law banning gender-affirming treatment for prepubertal teens, though advocates said at the time that no doctors in the state provided transitional care to children before puberty.
As a result of the policy, some families of transgender minors have decided to leave their home states so that they can continue to access gender-affirming care, supported by accredited medical groups — including the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Medical Association. Association. Psychological Association.
The bill Newsom signed is intended to protect families and children like them from prosecution in their home state if they travel to California for gender-affirming treatment or if they move to California after receiving transition-related care elsewhere.
“We believe that no one should be prosecuted or mistreated for getting the care they need – including gender-affirming care,” Newsom said in a statement after signing the act. “By signing this bill, California will ensure that these children and their families can seek and receive the medical and mental health care they need.”
The law includes various provisions intended to help protect trans families and children. It prohibits California healthcare providers from releasing medical information in connection with other state laws that prohibit gender-affirming treatment for minors. It also prohibits enforcement of court orders “under other state laws that allow a child to be removed from their parent or guardian on the basis of a parent or guardian allowing their child to receive gender-affirming health care or gender-affirming mental health care. ”
The bill also authorizes California courts to take temporary emergency jurisdiction when a child has not been able to receive gender-affirming health care elsewhere, which some social media has interpreted that California courts will be able to take custody of the children if they escape from their home country because their parents did not want to provide them with gender-affirming care.
But that’s not accurate, according to Asaf Orr, senior staff attorney and director of the Transgender Youth Project at the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Orr said that part of the bill relates to court jurisdiction in custody matters.
“State courts across the country have the power to consider whether to retain jurisdiction over custody matters involving a child who has recently arrived in the state,” Orr told Reuters. “This usually happens in cases of domestic violence or other crisis situations. This law simply makes it clear that courts must retain jurisdiction in situations where parents bring their child to California so they can obtain medical treatment for gender dysphoria.” Gender dysphoria is a medical condition that involves a conflict between an individual’s assigned gender at birth and their gender identity.
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Jo Yurcaba is a reporter for NBC Out.
Is there an age limit for transitioning?
The Endocrine Society Guidelines state that gender-affirming treatment in the form of sex hormones can be started “after a multidisciplinary team” has confirmed persistence of [gender dysphoria]/gender incongruence and adequate mental capacity to give consent,” which is usually around the age of 16. To see also : 8 Years Of Fighting The Police Union In Court And What Did We Get? Quite A Lot, It Turns Out.
What is the average age for transition? The data comes from the Trans Youth Project, a well-known effort that follows 317 children across the United States and Canada who go through what’s called a social transition between the ages of 3 and 12. The participants experienced the transition, on average, at 6.5 years of age.
Is there an age restriction on transitioning?
There is no set age limit for starting transitional hormone prescriptions; some doctors start transgender teens on hormone blockers in early puberty, while others recommend waiting. Read also : ‘Justice Was Done’: NY Legal Community Reacts to Murder Conviction for Derek Chauvin.
Can you get top surgery 14?
Although most individuals who undergo upper surgery are 18 years of age or older, younger individuals may be considered for this procedure if the patient, their legal guardian, and their mental health professional agree that upper surgery is appropriate.
At what age can you change your gender in California?
In addition, if you are under the age of 18, you will need the consent of your parent or legal guardian before a court or government agency approves the change. To see also : Amid FBI probe, Texas official hired from big donor family | National. After you get a court order, you will still need to change your gender in all your legal documents.
At what age can you change your gender? The Endocrine Society recommends that they wait until they are 18, but as more children transition at a younger age, some doctors perform this surgery earlier on a case-by-case basis.
How much does it cost to change your gender in California?
Fees: The cost of filing a petition for a name or gender change decision is $435. If you can’t afford to pay, you can ask for a fee waiver.
How do I change my gender?
Guidelines recommend people spend 12 months on hormone therapy before they get sex reassignment surgery (GRS). This surgery involves remaking a person’s genitals to be of the opposite sex. Removal of the gonads can also be done.
Can you legally change your gender without surgery?
Under United States federal law, and in some states, surgery is not required to change legal sex, but a healthcare professional must certify that their patient has undergone the “necessary” medical or psychological treatment for transition.
How can I change my name legally in California?
In California, you can seek a court order to change your legal name. To do this, you petition the court and publish a notice in the newspaper. Then, you will have a court date (trial) where the judge will make the decision, or the judge can make the decision without a hearing.
Can you legally change your gender on your birth certificate?
According to R.A. 10172, the wrong gender is considered a typo and/or typographical error and can be corrected by submitting a correction request at the LCR where the birth certificate is registered.
Can you change gender on birth certificate USA?
A Declaration to Change Records Form VS 24 (PDF) must be submitted to change the gender listed on the birth certificate to match the gender identity of the person. Names can be changed on the same VS 24 form, however a legalized court order name change is required.
How do I change my birth certificate gender in Virginia?
The Registrar of State must receive:
- Request from the individual or his/her parents (if the individual is under 18 years of age)
- A valid copy of the ID of the applicant.
- Correctly executed Gender Changing Form (VS42).
- A certified copy of the court order changing the person’s name if applicable.
What states can you change your gender?
In all 50 states, transgender individuals can legally change their gender on their driver’s license. But the process can be challenging. Some states require amendments to birth certificates and/or proof of operation confirming gender.
What is the legal age to change gender in California?
In most cases, youth under the age of 18 must obtain permission from their parents or guardians to access any medical care, including treatment for gender transition.
Can you take testosterone at 14?
If used in adolescents, hormone therapy is usually started at age 16. Ideally, treatment is started before the development of secondary sex characteristics so that adolescents can go through puberty as the sex they identify with. Gender-affirming hormone therapy is not usually used in children.
How old are you to use testosterone? If used in adolescents, hormone therapy is usually started at age 16. Ideally, treatment is started before the development of secondary sex characteristics so that adolescents can go through puberty as the sex they identify with.
Can you take hormones at 14?
Doctors are now considering allowing children to undergo hormone therapy at an early age to change their bodies. Under current guidelines, that type of treatment is provided for children aged 16 and over.
Can you start hormones at 14?
While the Endocrine Society guidelines suggest 16, more and more children start hormones at 13 or 14 after doctors, therapists and their families have agreed that they are mentally and emotionally ready.
Is there an age limit for hormone therapy?
Age. Women who start hormone therapy at age 60 or older or more than 10 years from the onset of menopause are at greater risk of the above conditions. But if hormone therapy is started before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits seem to outweigh the risks. Types of hormone therapy.
Can a 14 year old take hormone blockers?
The Endocrine Society and the World Association of Transgender Health Professionals support the use of puberty blockers for children who wish to delay or prevent unwanted physical changes. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved puberty blockers for children who start puberty at a young age.
Can a 13 year old get testosterone?
Cross-sex hormones – such as estrogen and testosterone – were once only given to adults. But treatment guidelines, set in 2009, now cover children – although they don’t recommend starting before age 16.
Does testosterone make you taller at 14?
So, does testosterone make you taller? Well, testosterone levels can affect height during puberty, but once a person reaches full adult height, testosterone has no effect. The level of testosterone in your body during adolescence will affect your height more than later in life.
Should a teenager take testosterone?
The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) does not recommend a T booster in young or late teens. That’s because boosters involve health risks that teens don’t fully understand. However, many still take it, hoping that the supplement will result in increased muscle mass and weight loss.
Can I start testosterone at 12?
Doctors may prescribe gradually higher amounts of estrogen or testosterone to mimic female or male puberty. The Endocrine Society recommends that children start taking this hormone around age 16, but doctors will start it as early as age 13 or 14.
What happens if a teenager takes testosterone?
Testosterone levels naturally increase during puberty, and combining it with boosters can lead to unhealthy amounts of male hormones in the body. Boosters can stop bone growth, cause acne outbreaks, and cause excessive sex drive.
What does testosterone do to a teenager?
During puberty, testosterone is responsible for the development of male attributes such as a deeper voice, beard, and body hair. It also increases muscle mass and sex drive. Testosterone production spikes during adolescence and peaks in the late teens or early 20s.
Can a 17 year old take testosterone pills?
Although testosterone boosters are not specifically recommended for children under the age of 18 except for documented medical reasons, 9.8 percent of salespeople recommend testosterone boosters, research shows.
What happens if a boy takes testosterone?
You will experience physical, mental, and sexual changes when you take testosterone supplements, including muscle mass growth, increased physical strength, higher sex drive, easy arousal, and improved mood. These changes can have the most beneficial effects, but some harmful effects can occur.
Do you lose feeling in your nipples after top surgery?
Generally you will lose the erotic sensation, but retain the sensation of touch or pressure. Although very rare in the Gender Confirmation Centre, it is possible to lose all nipple sensation after surgery over chest reconstruction.
What happens to the nipple after upper surgery? After surgery, you can expect your nipples to be sensitive to touch and temperature. You may also experience numbness or tingling. This sensation usually goes away in a few weeks to months. As for appearance, your nipples will be more proportional and may be a little asymmetrical at first.
Are nipples numb after top surgery?
– Nipple numbness – the nipple graft will numb completely immediately after surgery. This can be permanent numbness. But often over time the nerves will regenerate into grafts. This process is very slow and can take 6 months to a year after surgery.
How long does it take for nipples to heal after top surgery?
d. After about 3 weeks your nipple graft will be completely healed and you can stop changing the dressing. e. It is not uncommon for the center of the nipple graft to take the longest to heal.
What does top surgery do to your nipples?
Upper surgery with double incision with nipple graft This is the most common option. This involves: Removing your nipple and areola and reducing their size. Make a long incision to access and remove your breast.
