On March 30, Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a series of bills targeting abortion and transgender rights, joining a growing list of GOP-led states pursuing a conservative social agenda, NBC News reported.
The measures will outlaw abortion after 15 weeks if the U.S. Supreme Court allows it, bar gender-confirmation surgery for minors and ban transgender girls from playing on girls sports teams.
However, the ACLU, ACLU of Arizona and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) have promised to fight the anti-trans laws.
ACLU of Arizona Executive Director Jennifer Allen Aroz said in a press release, For months, hundreds of doctors, parents, advocates, and trans youth have shown up in opposition to the countless anti-trans bills heard in committees. Despite the overwhelming pleas to end these discriminatory bills, legislators were intent on using trans youth as political ploys and have now passed a bill that prohibits trans youth from receiving the life-saving medical care they require.
"Today is a sad day in Arizona. Presented with the opportunity to do the right thing and veto SB 1138, Gov. Ducey has instead chosen to give into falsehoods and extremism. Together with the ACLU and NCLR, we will continue to fight for trans youth and will file a lawsuit to challenge this law in court."
Asaf Orr, NCLR senior staff attorney and transgender youth project director, stated, "This is a harmful law that wrongly allows the government to dictate medical care for transgender youth in Arizona. Parents want what's best for their children. They don't need the State of Arizona seeking to take over their parental role."
In a separate statement, Tucson-based Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Kell Olson said, "Gov. Ducey framed this decision as 'common sense.' It's anything but. These bills will make life harder for transgender kids across Arizona who should have the opportunity to grow up feeling loved and respected for who they are. The governor offered platitudes about treating transgender people with 'dignity, respect, and kindness,' while signing legislation that ignores the very real concerns of the transgender youth who came to the legislature to share their stories and the horrific impact these new laws will have on their lives and mental health. That's not treating people with 'dignity, respect, or kindness.' It's just plain wrong."
Legislative attacks aimed at transgender people and their rights are at unprecedented levels. For anyone contemplating suicide, there is help available. Please contact:
Trevor Project: 866-488-7386
Trans Life Line: 877-565-8860