“This is wrong,” said Rep. Neil Rafferty, the only openly gay member of the Alabama Legislature. “Y’all sit there and campaign on family being the foundation of our nation ... but what this bill is doing is totally undermining that. It’s totally undermining family rights, health rights and access to health care.”
Alabama Rep. Neil Rafferty speaks during a debate on transgender bills during the legislative session in the House chamber at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, April 7, 2022.Updated: April 7, 2022 11:58 PM EDT | Originally published: April 7, 2022 4:33 PM EDT
The House of Representatives voted 66-28, largely along party lines, to grant final approval to legislation that would make it a felony for a doctor to prescribe puberty blockers or hormones to aid in the gender transition of anyone under age 19. Violations would be punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill also would prohibit gender transition surgeries, although doctors told lawmakers those are generally not done on minors.
Rep. Neil Rafferty, the only openly gay member of the Alabama Legislature, appeared to struggle to maintain composure as lawmakers headed to the vote. “You’re saying this is about children. It’s not. What it is about is scoring political points and using those children as collateral damage,” England said.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters Thursday that the U.S. Department of Justice has warned states such laws and policies may violate the Constitution and federal law.
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