Attack on Idaho's LGBTQ Community
Right now, the House is working on multiple pieces of legislation that would harm Idaho’s LGBTQ community.
The first piece, House Bill 500, also known as the Fairness in Woman’s Spots Act, would prohibit transgender girls from participating on girl sport teams in Idaho schools. If a student attempts to be on their schools sports team and is accused of being transgender, this legislation would require the student to provide documentation from their physician determining their biological sex. The medical assessment would be based on the student's internal and external reproductive anatomy, the student's normal endogenously produced levels of testosterone, and an analysis of the student's genetic makeup. This bill is not necessary, as the Idaho Athletic Association already has a rule in place that has specific stipulations in place to allow for Transgender youth to participate in Idaho athletics.
House Bill 465 would alter Idaho’s current law to prohibit physicians from providing gender affirming healthcare to minors. Doctors would be charged with a felony and face a possibility of life in prison if caught breaking this law. I believe this private matter should be left to the child, the parents, and the doctor. The government should not be intervening on personal decisions that a family chooses to make.
House Bill 509 would restrict Idaho citizens from changing information on their birth certificates. Tennessee and Ohio are the only other states which prohibit citizens from changing their birth certificates to reflect their gender identity. This proposal is inconsistent with the Federal Court ruling in F.V. v Barron. The Court held that restricting citizens from changing their birth certificates is unconstitutional because it deprives them of “privacy, liberty, and freedom.” I find it wasteful to try and pass a bill on a subject that has already been deemed unconstitutional by the Federal Court and will place Idaho officials in direct contempt of court.
|
