Democrats in the Nevada state Senate have proposed a bill that would bar healthcare licensing boards from disciplining or disqualifying doctors who perform transgender surgeries on minors.
Senate Bill 302, which is sponsored by Democrats Edgar Flores, Chief Majority Whip Dallas Harris, James Ohrenschall, Co-Majority Whip Melanie Scheible, and President Pro-Tempore Pat Spearman, would also prevent the governor from arresting or surrendering doctors charged with violating laws banning transgender procedures for minors in another state.
Last Wednesday, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee began considering the legislation but has not taken action on it yet. The committee has until Friday to vote on the measure.
In the committee hearing, Senator Orhenschall claimed that transgender medical procedures are “medically necessary.” He criticized the eleven states that have enacted legislation restricting or banning transgender procedures for minors. He claimed that such bans put doctors at risk of losing their medical licenses while “damaging their professional reputation.”
Senator Spearman, who chairs the committee, claimed that gender dysphoria is not a mental disorder. She argued that since the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders removed homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973, then gender dysphoria is also not a mental disorder.
Co-Minority Whip, Republican Senator Jeff Stone spoke against the proposed legislation, arguing that transgender surgery should not be available to anyone under the age of 18. Stone pointed out that not every child who suffers from gender dysphoria maintains the transgender identity once going through puberty. He said the daughter of his friend underwent transgender procedures as a minor and now regrets it.
Senator Orhenschall pushed back, arguing that the decision to undergo transgender procedures should remain between a child, the parents, and their doctor.
Recently, Minnesota passed a “safe haven” measure protecting doctors who provide transgender procedures to those under 18.
