California Stalls Bill Banning Intersex Surgery For Children

 | 
04/05/2021

First-of-its-kind California legislation to ban some medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex children stalled Monday for the third straight year in the same committee, with the author saying that proposed amendments would have stripped much of its purpose. State Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat from San Francisco, wants to bar certain types of surgeries on children born with intersex characteristics. That’s when their genitalia, chromosomes or reproductive organs don’t fit typical definitions for male or female bodies. His bill would prohibit surgeries until the child is age 12, which advocates say would give the child time to develop a gender identity. His original proposal would delay procedures until age 6 unless they are deemed medically necessary. It was opposed by several medical groups, which argued that the bill’s language was so broad that it “would jeopardize medical care for thousands of young patients” and could apply even to common procedures like circumcisions. Wiener said he could try again next year. But he noted that versions of what he termed a “LGBTQ+ civil rights bill” have now stalled in the Senate business and professions committee three consecutive years. He rejected proposed amendments by the committee that he said “would likely exclude a large majority of intersex people from the bill’s protections.”

Share this:

Latest Global News

Added on: 11/23/2024
11/23/2024
Members of the LGBTQ community in the Philippines can adopt children as individuals, but legal adoption does not extend to same-sex couples due to …
Added on: 11/23/2024
11/22/2024
Donald Trump announced today (Friday, Nov. 22) that he is nominating hedge fund executive Scott Besent, a top fundraising for the Trump campaign, to …
Added on: 11/23/2024
11/22/2024
A housing program in Vancouver is ensuring that transgender and two-spirit people have a safe place to call home. CBC’s Caroline Chan stopped by …

Explore LGBTQ+ Issues

Other News from ,

Added on: 11/23/2024
Donald Trump announced today (Friday, Nov. 22) that he is nominating hedge fund executive Scott Besent, a top fundraising for the Trump campaign, to …
Added on: 11/23/2024
A housing program in Vancouver is ensuring that transgender and two-spirit people have a safe place to call home. CBC’s Caroline Chan stopped by …
Added on: 11/22/2024
In the wake of the U.S. election, crisis lines are surging – an undeniable indication that the most marginalized groups among us are reeling in uncertainty. In …