The Iowa Legislature recently passed a bill banning gender affirming care for transgender minors. 

Senate File 538 will prohibit doctors from providing puberty blockers or any other gender-affirming services to a person younger than 18 years of age. The bill passed between party lines in both chambers of Congress. Representative for District 28 David Young, who voted for the piece of legislation, says he is hearing from a ton of parents and health care professionals that are against gender-affirming experimental drugs and surgeries that change a child’s biology forever. He explains that kids should not be making life changing decisions because attitudes can change as they grow older.

“To remove a body part, that’s permanent, that can never come back. And there are great repercussions to that. And these are experimental drugs that are out there that are given to kids. And the repercussions with all of this, both emotionally, mentally and physically, can be damaging. And so if this is going to happen, if it happens at all, it should be when you’re an adult, when you’re over 18.”

The piece of legislation has received backlash from Democrats for attacking LGBQT rights and claimed it will increase the suicide rate for the transgender community. The Republican from Van Meter says there is no data to support that claim. 

“This hasn’t been happening a lot before, you know, the last few years and so we were in an experimental phase with these experimental drugs and surgeries.” 

Young says that he would like to provide support groups and professionals to talk with anyone struggling with this situation. The bill will be sent to the Governor’s desk for a signature.