Republican lawmakers plan to reintroduce legislation banning gender-affirming care for minors after the U.S Supreme Court signaled the issue should be left to the states to decide.
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority hinted Wednesday they may uphold a Tennessee law that prohibits gender-affirming care for minors. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested the issue should be debated in state legislatures, not the courts.
Following the hearing, Rep. Scott Allen, R-Waukesha, told CBS58 he plans to reintroduce his bill that would reduce access to gender transition services including sterilization surgeries, mastectomies, puberty blockers and hormones for minors.
Rep. Barbara Dittrich, R-Oconomowoc, defended the bill, adding that she plans to reintroduce her bill to ban transgender youth from playing on women and girls’ sports teams this coming legislative session, according to CBS58.
"It's such a permanent decision to make," Dittrich told CBS58. "There are many things we don't allow minors to do that are really serious and I think this is one of them. It's concerning."
Previously, Allen, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Cedarburg, proposed the same bill in October 2023 titled the “Help Not Harm Act.” In July 2022, Republicans introduced another similar bill that did not reach a public hearing or vote.
A total of 14 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced during the 2024 legislative session, all of which failed to pass the Legislature or were vetoed by Gov. Tony Evers. Evers has promised to veto legislation targeting transgender Wisconsinites.
This is a developing story.
Anna Kleiber is the state news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She previously served as the arts editor. Anna has written in-depth on elections, legislative maps and campus news. She has interned with WisPolitics and Madison Magazine. Follow her on Twitter at @annakleiber03.
