Houma Senator Michael Fesi files legislation requiring parental consent for a minor seeking gender therapy which includes psychotherapy along with surgical and nonsurgical procedures for gender identity. Fesi says it should be required like every other medical procedure for minors.
“Because the word has been pushed out that a five or six-year-old can decide what they want to do and change their gender and I think that needs to be held up to age 18 and the parents need to have consent,” said Fesi.
Louisiana Trans Advocates President Dylan Waguespack does not support the legislation.
“We can potentially have parents who have no involvement in their child’s life, stepping into trying to override medical decisions about what care they need,” said Waguespack.
Waguespack says the suicide attempt rate among trans youth is 50% and denying them medical care, especially by a lawmaker without a background in medicine or mental health could increase suicide attempts.
But Fesi says several constituents have come to him concerned about their children having the ability to change their gender without parental consent.
“They don’t want somebody to put the idea in their child’s head that they need to change their gender that’s happening more and more,” said Fesi.
The legislation is expected to be heard in the regular legislative session, which begins April 12th.
Comments