The National Defense Authorization Act Will Test Democrats on Transgender Kids' Rights to Gender-Affirming Care

[Celerity]

Bill text for the NDAA says “medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization may not be provided to a child under the age of 18.” “I mean, I’m sure I’m gonna look at it and think, ‘Man, I voted against that. I wish it wasn’t in,’” Sen. Tim Kaine said. “But, you know, we need a defense bill.”

https://www.notus.org/the-ndaa-will-test-democrats-on-transgender-kids-rights-to-gender-affirming-care

A single line targeting transgender youth in the proposed compromise defense budget will put Democrats’ records supporting the LGBTQ+ community to the test. In what Speaker Mike Johnson called an “end [to] the radical woke ideology being imposed on our military,” the National Defense Authorization Act, which dropped Saturday night, includes a provision “permanently banning transgender medical treatment for minors,” he said in a statement. “Medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization may not be provided to a child under the age of 18,” the bill text reads.

“It’s an issue we debated extensively on committee,” Sen. Mark Kelly told NOTUS. “We’ve got a problem with it, but that’s the bill. That’s what’s been negotiated, and everybody’s going to have to make their own decision on whether they can support it.” Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services committee, called on Johnson to strike the line from what was otherwise a consensus piece of legislation, which includes pay increases for troops and funding for modernization. Smith told Politico that he’s still undecided whether he’ll vote in favor of the NDAA because of this provision, though he noted that negotiations had “watered it down considerably” from previous drafts.

Earlier this year, Republicans passed a version of the NDAA that included amendments prohibiting funds for increased abortion access, undoing climate change provisions and denying health care for transgender troops. With the bill on track for the floor, this provision would make Democrats have to choose between passing the defense budget and taking a stand against anti-transgender policies.

Even so, Kelly was confident that the bill would pass and he wasn’t alone. Sen. Tim Kaine, who hadn’t read the full text of the bill, didn’t think it would slow down the process either. “I mean, I’m sure I’m gonna look at it and think, ‘Man, I voted against that. I wish it wasn’t in,’” Kaine said, remarking that it wasn’t the only change from what was drawn up in the Senate earlier this year. “But, you know, we need a defense bill.” Last month, NOTUS reported on an effort to strip “culture war” provisions out of the final text. Now, this single line prohibiting Tricare from covering gender-affirming care for minors has become a rallying cry for Republicans.

snip

[Docreed2003]

1. Anyone else insanely tired of hearing "radical woke", "woke", "radical left"

Every single time the GOP pushes a far right agenda? Where is the pushback against "radical right", "extreme evangelical" bullshit?

[leftstreet]

2. If only they'd put Medicare For All in a defense bill n/t

DURec