Alabama Senate Passes Bill Banning Transgender Treatments, Surgeries for Minors

State senators in Alabama voted this week to pass a bill that seeks to prevent children from obtaining medication and therapy that would change their gender. The Alabama Senate passed the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, or Senate Bill 10, on Tuesday in a 23-4 vote. The bill will now be considered by the state House of Representatives. The state’s House Judiciary Committee advanced a similar companion bill last week. The proposed laws ban doctors from performing medical procedures, or prescribing hormonal therapy and puberty blockers to minors who wish to transition to another gender. It also prohibits school staff in the state from withholding information from parents or legal guardians that “a minor’s perception that his or her gender or sex is inconsistent with his or her sex.” Proponents of the bill argue that it is necessary to protect the health and well-being of children as they are not ready to make such decision …