The United States House of Representatives approved a bill on Wednesday that criminalizes gender transition medical treatments for minors at the federal level. The initiative was approved by 216 votes in favor and 211 against, with majority support from the Republican Party and broad opposition among Democrats.
More than 200 Democratic lawmakers voted against the bill, although three of them, Vicente González, from Texas; Don Davis, from North Carolina; and Henry Cuellar, also from Texas, joined Republicans to support the proposal.
In contrast, four Republicans, Mike Kennedy, from Utah; Brian Fitzpatrick, from Pennsylvania; Gabe Evans, from Colorado; and Mike Lawler, from New York, voted against it, showing that the debate partially transcended traditional party lines.
The approved law creates new federal crimes that provide for sentences of up to 10 years in prison for doctors who perform gender-affirming surgeries on minors under 18 years of age.
In addition, it prohibits the prescription of puberty blockers for gender transition purposes and establishes criminal liability for parents or guardians who consent to or facilitate these types of treatments.
Its sponsors argue that the regulation seeks to protect minors from irreversible medical decisions and to ensure that the state acts in defense of their physical and psychological well-being.
A total of 45 Republican lawmakers had formally backed the bill before the vote, and the majority of the party voted in favor in the full chamber. Although it is still not clear whether the Senate, controlled by Republicans, will bring the initiative to a vote, approval in the lower house represents an important step forward for those who promote strict federal regulation of these treatments.
