Public hearing on HB 1, the measure to ban therapies for transgender minors, is about to begin. Rep. Jim Hill, R-Moody, the committee chair, says there are four people here speak in favor and four against. #alpolitics
Hill says there will not be a vote on the bill today. #alpolitics
Sponsor Rep. Wes Allen, R-Troy, going over the bill, which outlaws puberty blockers, surgeries. #alpolitics
Speaker speaking for the bill (a Birmingham pediatrician) saying teenagers are impulsive and easily confused. We spoke with another Bham pediatrician earlier today who stressed the long process of transitioning, and the multiple health professionals involved. #alpolitics
Opponent of the bill says genital surgery and removal of healthy organs "is never performed on children. That would be malpractice." Also says puberty blockers have been used for 30 years and are reversible. #alpolitics
Speaker from a state psychological board supports amendment that would protect psychologists. Says the bill as written would criminalize psychologists when they discuss the possibility of gender dysphoria. #alpolitics
Father of a transgender daughter speaking against the bill. Says UAB was very supportive in the process: "They didn’t push anything on me. They reeled us in at every step. They made sure it’s a baby steps. They haven’t put anything on us. Just the opposite." #alpolitics
Republican members of the committee have a lot of questions for a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who spoke in favor of this bill. Not sure what his expertise on this subject is. #alpolitics
(To this point, there have been no questions to the pediatricians who spoke on the issue, whether for or against.) #alpolitics
Under Qs from Reps. Coleman and England, the plastic surgeon acknowledges that if a child came to him presenting gender dysphoria, he would refer them to a psychologist. #alpolitics
England: "What this legislation is trying to get us to do is invade a fundamental right to parent their children." #alpolitics
Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, is wondering why this bill is in the House Judiciary Committee (where few members have medical experience) and not in the House Health Committee. #alpolitics
(The bill was in the House Health Committee last year, FWIW.) #alpolitics
Father of the transgender teen is back up. "Any illusion that there are parents running around dragging their kid to be transgender -- what parent wants their kid to go through anything more difficult?" #alpolitics
Father continues: "She is a happy girl. She was not a happy boy ... as time went on, she found her way." Said it was something that she went through over years and years, and he didn't realize "until it was thrown into my lap." #alpolitics
Simpson says he has a friend who is going through the same thing, thanks the father for his testimony, and tells him he's being broadcast around the state. "Oh geez," he says. #alpolitics
Public hearing on HB 1 has concluded. Rep. Hill says there will not be a vote today. Expects one in two weeks. #alpolitics
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