Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall believes the state is not infringing on anyone’s rights by banning certain transgender procedures for minors.
Last month, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Marshall and the state of Alabama by vacating a judge’s temporary injunction against enforcing the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act.
While the court ruled in favor of lifting the injunction, it will remain in place until the court issues its mandate.
The law bans treating people under 19 with puberty blockers or hormones.
Marshall discussed the issue Friday on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal.”
“The state’s interest never ends as it related to kids,” Marshall said. “We always have a vested interest in being able to protect our children … What you saw the 11th Circuit acknowledge that the parents have rights clearly around the education of their kids, dealing with custody issues. There’s never been this absolute rights for parents to allow their children that ultimately are long-detrimental to their health.”
The attorney general said he’s learned a great deal about the dangers of these kinds of procedures while arguing this case.
“I’ve talked to countless young people who shared with me that during their youth they felt a certain way, they really didn’t want to be the other gender and they just realized that ultimately it was just a really big mistake,” he said. “And as a result of the fact that they went through this off-label use of medication through certain clinics that tried to transition them, they have long term medical and emotional problems that they’re dealing with right now.”
Marshall said part of the state’s job in the future will be informing parents of the real risks of having their children receive these treatments.
“I think we’re ultimately going to be able to offer evidence of people who went into a clinic and were just sort of blanketly told this is what you’re going to do,” he said. “Never an explanation as to the risk or the hazards as a result of the puberty blockers, and then making decisions without understanding that there are non-medical ways to deal with gender dysphoria.”
He also said the evidence, eventually, will make it “abundantly clear” that banning these kinds of procedures for minors was the right thing to do.
“I think once we have the opportunity really to expose the lie and the fraud that surrounds those who want to do this to our kids,” he said, “it’s going to be abundantly clear the state’s interest in making sure that we can protect kids.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
