Under North Dakota’s law, health care providers can be charged with a felony for performing gender affirmation surgeries on minors, punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and/or a $20,000 fine.
Opponents said such surgeries are not performed on minors in North Dakota, and that the ban on gender-affirming care would harm transgender youth, who are at increased risk for depression, suicide and self-harm.
The law exempts minors who were already receiving gender-affirming care, and allows for the treatment of “a minor born with a medically verifiable genetic disorder of sex development."
At least 22 states have adopted bans on some or all gender-affirming care for minors since 2021.
Meanwhile, at least 13 Democrat-controlled states have new laws or executive orders seeking to protect access to gender-affirming care for minors.
Persons:
he'll, ”, Brittany Stewart, Judge Jackson Lofgren, Doug Burgum, Stewart, “, ” Stewart, Joe Quinn, Quinn, Geoff Mulvihill
Organizations:
N.D, U.S, North, Republican, Republican Gov, Democrat, Associated Press
Locations:
BISMARCK, North Dakota, Dakota, Alabama , Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana , Kentucky, Montana, Tennessee, Alabama , Kentucky, Cherry Hill , New Jersey