Tennessee’s Senate voted 25-4 on Thursday to pass a bill that would make it a felony for adults to assist minors in pursuing gender transition procedures. The bill, sponsored by Republican State Senator Janice Bowling as SB 2782, targets adults who “recruit, harbor, or transport an unemancipated minor” in Tennessee for the purpose of undergoing medical procedures aimed at enabling the minor to identify with a different gender or alleviate discomfort related to gender identity discordance. If enacted, the bill would classify such actions as felonies and impose penalties including prison sentences of three to 15 years and fines of up to $10,000.
Similar to legislation addressing minors seeking abortions without parental consent, the bill authorizes civil liability for individuals found in violation. The proposal is expected to garner additional support in the GOP-led House of Representatives.
Opposition to the bill from Tennessee Democrats was voiced during Senate proceedings. Senator Jeff Yarbro expressed concern about the potential infringement on constitutional rights, while Senator Heidi Campbell emphasized the importance of considering scenarios where relationships with parents may not be conducive to open communication about gender dysphoria.
Tennessee’s proposed legislation follows a trend seen in Idaho, which currently has a law targeting adults facilitating abortions for minors. However, Tennessee’s bill would be the first in the U.S. to specifically address penalties for aiding minors seeking gender transition procedures.
Meanwhile, attention has been drawn to Maine’s consideration of legislation that would establish the state as a sanctuary for abortions and gender-transition procedures for minors, sparking debate and scrutiny from Republican attorneys general who view the proposal as overreaching.
