SE Oakland News

State Senator Thomas Albert has introduced a series of bills in Michigan aimed at restricting certain medical procedures related to gender transition for minors. The proposed legislation, Senate Bills 289-291, seeks to prohibit procedures for individuals under 18 when intended to alter appearance or align with a perception of sex inconsistent with the individual's birth sex. These procedures include puberty blockers, hormone treatments in abnormal amounts, sterilization, removal of healthy tissues or body parts, and surgeries to construct tissues not aligned with the minor's birth sex.

Exceptions are included for minors diagnosed with a sexual development disorder by a physician or when necessary to prevent impairment of major bodily functions or address harm from previous procedures.

Senator Albert expressed concern over the long-term health consequences of such procedures. "We don’t yet know the long-term health consequences of these procedures that remove fully healthy body parts or involve chemically altering kids before they’ve even had a chance to fully mature," he stated. He emphasized that care should be "evidence-based and in the child’s short- and long-term best interests."

Albert was joined by Representative Brad Paquette and supporters during an event in Lansing. Attendees included a former worker at a pediatric transgender clinic and a detransitioner who shared their experiences.

The legislation would not criminalize these medical practices but would allow individuals who underwent them as minors to seek civil relief if harmed.

Albert noted that similar measures have been adopted in other states and referenced an executive order signed by President Donald Trump earlier this year aimed at protecting children from such procedures. "We have an obligation to protect kids," Albert said, highlighting existing age restrictions on activities like driving and drinking as precedents for these proposed protections.