Milwaukee South News

Democratic Governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers, has vetoed a bill backed by Republicans that sought to prohibit medical transition procedures for individuals under 18. These procedures are often referred to as gender-affirming care. The decision has sparked debate, with House Speaker Robin Vos drawing attention to international practices and criticizing the veto. He underscored the significance of making such life-altering decisions at a young age.

Speaker Robin Vos, who holds the position of Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly, commented on Governor Evers' decision: "Evers made another harmful mistake". He added, "Such a life-altering decision should be made when you're an adult, not a child". Highlighting global practices, Vos said, "Many countries, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands do not allow for gender transition surgery before the age of 18."

According to Wisconsin Watch, Governor Evers defended his veto in a message: "This type of legislation and the rhetoric beget by pursuing it harms LGBTQ people and kids’ mental health, emboldens anti-LGBTQ hate and violence and threatens the safety and dignity of LGBTQ Wisconsinites." Following his veto announcement, Evers passed his veto pen to a teenager wearing a hat bearing the colors of the trans flag – blue, pink, and white.

Assembly Bill 465 aimed to prohibit specific medical interventions for individuals under 18 years seeking to alter their bodies to align with a gender different from their biological sex. As outlined in the bill's text, banned procedures included castration, mastectomy and gender-affirming genital surgeries. The bill also proposed restrictions on medication administration barring puberty-blocking drugs and hormone treatments except in specific medical scenarios. It provided exceptions for cases involving genetic disorders of sex development or imminent health threats. The bill mandated investigations by healthcare licensing boards for alleged violations which could potentially result in license revocation. The bill also incorporated a delayed effective date to accommodate the careful tapering and discontinuation of medications, under healthcare provider guidance, for minors utilizing puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones.

As reported by the Wisconsin State Journal, both the Senate and the House approved the bill along party lines. The opposition came solely from Democratic legislators. Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, said: "Protecting children from invasive and irreversible medical interventions is the right thing to do from both a scientific and ethical standpoint. While the Governor’s veto of this legislation is certainly not surprising, it serves as a stark reminder of just how out of touch with reality Governor Evers is."

According to information available on Speaker Vos' website, Robin Vos has held his position as Wisconsin's 75th Assembly Speaker for the longest tenure in state history. He has led the chamber since 2013, overseeing a Republican majority of 64 out of 99 seats. Elected in 2004, Vos previously chaired the Joint Finance Committee and owns small businesses in southeastern Wisconsin.