On March 8, the Idaho House passed House Bill 675, which would prohibit gender-confirming medical treatment for anyone under the age of 18, KTVB reported.
The bill would place a ban on surgery, puberty blockers and hormone treatments used to assist in gender transition. "This bill is about protecting children which is a legitimate state interest, we do that all of the time," said state Rep. Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa).
According to Skaug, author of HB 675, in 2019 the legislature unanimously passed what is now Idaho Code 18-1506b, outlawing genital mutilation of a female child and imposing a felony penalty. He asked the law be amended to include boys and girls.
Bree Ladimera trans woman and student at Boise State Universitysaid this bill will only harm trans youth. Ladimer said her hormone placement and puberty blockers changed her life for the better.
In a statement Windy City Times received, Human Rights Campaign State Legislative Director and Senior Counsel Cathryn Oakley said, "It is so disappointing that some politicians in Boise have decided to follow Texas and Alabama down the path of imposing felony criminal penalties upon doctors who are simply doing their jobs.
"Every kid in Idaho deserves the chance to grow up feeling safe and respected for who they are. Denying someone medically-necessary health care simply because you don't approve of who they are is textbook discrimination."