Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has taken a resolute stance in support of LGBTQ+ youth by vetoing a bill that aimed to prohibit gender-affirming care for minors. Evers, a Democrat, has consistently vowed to reject any proposals from the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature that he deems detrimental to the well-being of LGBTQ+ young people.
The bill, passed by the Legislature in October, sought to ban gender-affirming surgeries, a rare medical procedure, along with all forms of gender-affirming care for minors in Wisconsin. This included puberty blockers and hormone treatments using estrogen and testosterone. In his veto message, Evers emphasized the harmful consequences of such legislation, stating, “This type of legislation, and the rhetoric it begets, harms LGBTQ people and children’s mental health, emboldens anti-LGBTQ hate and violence, and threatens the safety and dignity of LGBTQ Wisconsinites.” He further asserted, “I will veto any bill that makes Wisconsin a less safe, less inclusive, and less welcoming place for LGBTQ people and kids.”
Supporters of the bill argued that medical opinions on gender-affirming care could evolve in the future, potentially making current treatments irreversible. However, gender-affirming care has been available in the United States for over a decade and is endorsed by major medical associations. Republican Senator Duey Stroebel voiced his disagreement with the veto, claiming that protecting children from invasive and irreversible medical interventions is both scientifically and ethically sound.
This move by Governor Evers places Wisconsin among the states that have taken measures to safeguard LGBTQ+ youth against restrictive or prohibitive laws regarding gender-affirming medical care. As of now, at least 22 states have enacted such laws, with many facing legal challenges. Notably, gender-affirming surgeries for minors are infrequent, with fewer than 3,700 recorded between 2016 and 2019 in the United States, according to a study published in August. The bill vetoed by Evers is one of several proposals targeting transgender individuals that he has pledged to reject, reinforcing his commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of LGBTQ+ people in Wisconsin.