Related: At least four teens have attempted suicide after Arkansas bans trans youth from getting healthcare.
The Arkansas House was holding a hearing on H.B. 1570 on March 9, which banned doctors and other health care professionals from providing gender-affirming health care for transgender minors.
The so-called “Arkansas Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act,” will ban gender-affirming care of any kind from being given or even offered for consideration to trans youth.
That includes surgery (which is not performed on trans minors anyway), hormone therapy, and reversible puberty blockers.
“No matter what happens here today, you are loved,” Attig said in his testimony, talking to trans youth.
The legislators cut off his mic, but he kept going until he was escorted out of the building while everyone sat silently.
“They have very little resources to begin with and now you’re going to make them choose between rent and their child’s life. »
