Tennessee State Council approved a bill on April 25th that classifies adults who assist children in undergoing gender transition procedures without parental consent as criminals.
The SB 2782 bill, initiated by State Senator Janice Bowling, passed in the Senate with a vote of 24 to 4. The majority of Republicans believe that this is crucial in safeguarding parental rights.
According to the provisions of the bill, any adult found recruiting, harboring, or transporting “dependent minors” in Tennessee for prohibited transgender medical procedures will face criminal charges. Violations will constitute a Class C felony, punishable by 3 to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. The bill also allows for civil lawsuits against individuals found in violation of the law.
Recently, Tennessee lawmakers also approved a bill targeting adults who assist minors in obtaining abortions without parental consent. This bill is commonly referred to as the “anti-abortion trafficking” bill. Supporters of this bill seek to limit adults from facilitating abortions for minors without the approval of parents or guardians. The provisions of this bill were passed just one day prior and bear significant resemblance to those in SB 2782. If passed, Tennessee will become the second state, following Idaho, to criminalize aiding minors in obtaining abortions and marks the first instance of similar penalties for assisting minors in seeking transgender services.
Both measures have faced opposition from Democratic lawmakers in the Tennessee State Legislature, with some arguing that they infringe on freedom of speech. Democratic State Senator Jeff Yarbro stated during legislative sessions that these bills “regulate the types of conversations people can have with each other.” He added, “We should not attempt to infringe on constitutional rights, and that is exactly what this does.”
Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee also issued a ban on the use of state funds for hormone treatment or gender reassignment surgery for prisoners. However, this rule does not apply to inmates who are already undergoing hormone therapy. It also prohibits public school staff from keeping information about children identifying as a different gender secret from parents. However, in November of last year, the Biden administration petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn Tennessee’s ban on gender transition procedures for minors, although the Court has not yet issued a decision to review or rehear the case.