On Wednesday, after years of the deep red South Dakota legislature killing bills that would protect vulnerable youth from mutilating sex change surgeries and hormone blockers, the state is one step closer providing protections to Help not Harm these minors.
House Bill 1080, an Act to prohibit certain medical and surgical interventions on minor patients, passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee today in a vote of 4-2. The bill will move onto the SD Senate floor Thursday, February 9 at 2 pm.
Last week, the bill passed out of the House of Representatives in an overwhelming yet surprising 60-10 vote after much contentious debate.
Following significant pressure related to her previous positions on transgender bills, Governor Kristi Noem has released a statement noting that she will sign HB 1080 if it makes it to her desk.
Today’s HHS Committee testimony took place in an overflowing room of mostly HB 1080 supporters and included a powerful personal account by destransitioner and national activist Chloe Cole. Cole is an 18-year-old woman who underwent an elective mastectomy and hormone therapy at age 15. Also testifying as a proponent of the bill was Billy Burleigh, a destrasitioner and national advocate for protecting vulnerable youth.
Bill prime sponsor Rep. Bethany Soye, (R) District 9, was thrilled at the bill’s passage out of the Senate HHS Committee. “This bill is very close to the finish line, and we are proud of our efforts to protect vulnerable youth in our state who need Help Not Harm.”
