Rep Gabe Firment (R) Grant Parish
Legislation to prohibit transgender procedures on minors advances from the House Health and Welfare Committee. Pollock Representative Gabe Firment’s bill is entitled the Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act. The Republican said several European nations that pioneered gender reassignment surgery have reversed course.
“And are now recommending counseling and watchful waiting, as opposed to the use of dangerous and experimental drugs and invasive and irreversible surgeries,” said Firment.
New Orleans Pediatric Psychologist Clifton Mixon testified before committee members in opposition to the bill. He said healthcare professionals try every alternative possible before performing such procedures and prohibiting them will have dire consequences.
“Some transgender children who we could have helped with hormone therapy will exhaust all other options and will commit suicide. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to help them, but the result will be the same. You will have blood on your hands,” said Mixon.
Firment said surrounding states and other conservative southern states have passed similar laws and Louisiana should also.
“If we don’t pass this bill, Louisiana will become the destination in the south for these procedures. We simply must act to protect our kids,” said Firment.
Proponents of the bill say physicians are grooming children to have the costly procedures merely for greed and social media is what’s causing children to be trans. Olivia Gowan, a transgender woman, refuted the argument and told committee members she was a transgender child in the 90s long before social media.
“Anyone who votes yes for this bill is voting yes for suicide. And that is a fact,” Gowan stated.
“Excuse me, we’re not going to threaten this committee,” said Committee Chair Larry Bagley.
“I’m not threatening anybody,” Gowen responded.
“I’m not going to talk to you anymore, you be quiet, your time’s up,” Bagley said.
Bagley, who lost his wife to suicide, quickly dismissed Gowan. House Bill 436 passed in committee on a 14 to 3 vote and advances to the full House.
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