SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
People take part in rally outside the Stonewall Inn, a landmark of the gay rights movement, on February 23, 2017 in the Greenwich Village area of New York City, demanding equal rights for transgender and gender non-conforming people. (Photo: Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)
'This Victory Belongs to Trans Youth': Arkansas Gov. Vetoes Bill That Would Deny Gender-Affirming Care
"This victory belongs to the thousands of Arkansans who spoke out against this discriminatory bill, especially the young people, parents, and pediatricians who never stopped fighting this anti-trans attack."
Apr 05, 2021
Less than a week after its GOP-controlled legislature passed House Bill 1570 and put Arkansas on a path toward becoming the first state in the U.S. to ban healthcare for trans youth, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday vetoed the transphobic legislation, calling it a "vast government overreach."
Hutchinson's veto of HB1570, which would block doctors from providing gender-affirming care or referring patients for such care, came in the wake of sustained opposition to what the state ACLU chapter described as "one of the most extreme and harmful anti-trans bills in the country."
"This victory belongs to the thousands of Arkansans who spoke out against this discriminatory bill, especially the young people, parents, and pediatricians who never stopped fighting this anti-trans attack," the ACLU of Arkansas tweeted Monday afternoon.
While praising Hutchinson's veto and the activism that brought it about, the national ACLU warned that the fight is not yet over because there is a substantial threat that state lawmakers will override the governor's veto, an act that requires only a simple majority in Arkansas.
"Lawmakers in Arkansas should take the time to listen to the people of Arkansas--particularly trans youth--the way Gov. Hutchinson did and abandon this misguided and dangerous bill," tweeted the civil liberties organization.
Arkansas is far from alone in attempting to deny gender-affirming healthcare to trans youth. As the Washington Post reported Monday, "Republican lawmakers in at least 17 other states have introduced similar bans on medical treatments for transgender minors, despite opposition from major pediatric and psychiatric organizations."
Last month, Hutchinson himself "signed into law a ban on transgender girls competing in school sports consistent with their gender identity, as well as a bill allowing doctors to refuse treatment to a patient based on religious or moral objections," the Post noted.
In light of the GOP's nationwide legislative attacks on trans people, the ACLU said that "lawmakers across the country should take note."
"If they don't, we'll be just as loud," the group added. "Trans people BELONG."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Kenny Stancil
Kenny Stancil is senior researcher at the Revolving Door Project and a former staff writer for Common Dreams.
Less than a week after its GOP-controlled legislature passed House Bill 1570 and put Arkansas on a path toward becoming the first state in the U.S. to ban healthcare for trans youth, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday vetoed the transphobic legislation, calling it a "vast government overreach."
Hutchinson's veto of HB1570, which would block doctors from providing gender-affirming care or referring patients for such care, came in the wake of sustained opposition to what the state ACLU chapter described as "one of the most extreme and harmful anti-trans bills in the country."
"This victory belongs to the thousands of Arkansans who spoke out against this discriminatory bill, especially the young people, parents, and pediatricians who never stopped fighting this anti-trans attack," the ACLU of Arkansas tweeted Monday afternoon.
While praising Hutchinson's veto and the activism that brought it about, the national ACLU warned that the fight is not yet over because there is a substantial threat that state lawmakers will override the governor's veto, an act that requires only a simple majority in Arkansas.
"Lawmakers in Arkansas should take the time to listen to the people of Arkansas--particularly trans youth--the way Gov. Hutchinson did and abandon this misguided and dangerous bill," tweeted the civil liberties organization.
Arkansas is far from alone in attempting to deny gender-affirming healthcare to trans youth. As the Washington Post reported Monday, "Republican lawmakers in at least 17 other states have introduced similar bans on medical treatments for transgender minors, despite opposition from major pediatric and psychiatric organizations."
Last month, Hutchinson himself "signed into law a ban on transgender girls competing in school sports consistent with their gender identity, as well as a bill allowing doctors to refuse treatment to a patient based on religious or moral objections," the Post noted.
In light of the GOP's nationwide legislative attacks on trans people, the ACLU said that "lawmakers across the country should take note."
"If they don't, we'll be just as loud," the group added. "Trans people BELONG."
Kenny Stancil
Kenny Stancil is senior researcher at the Revolving Door Project and a former staff writer for Common Dreams.
Less than a week after its GOP-controlled legislature passed House Bill 1570 and put Arkansas on a path toward becoming the first state in the U.S. to ban healthcare for trans youth, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday vetoed the transphobic legislation, calling it a "vast government overreach."
Hutchinson's veto of HB1570, which would block doctors from providing gender-affirming care or referring patients for such care, came in the wake of sustained opposition to what the state ACLU chapter described as "one of the most extreme and harmful anti-trans bills in the country."
"This victory belongs to the thousands of Arkansans who spoke out against this discriminatory bill, especially the young people, parents, and pediatricians who never stopped fighting this anti-trans attack," the ACLU of Arkansas tweeted Monday afternoon.
While praising Hutchinson's veto and the activism that brought it about, the national ACLU warned that the fight is not yet over because there is a substantial threat that state lawmakers will override the governor's veto, an act that requires only a simple majority in Arkansas.
"Lawmakers in Arkansas should take the time to listen to the people of Arkansas--particularly trans youth--the way Gov. Hutchinson did and abandon this misguided and dangerous bill," tweeted the civil liberties organization.
Arkansas is far from alone in attempting to deny gender-affirming healthcare to trans youth. As the Washington Post reported Monday, "Republican lawmakers in at least 17 other states have introduced similar bans on medical treatments for transgender minors, despite opposition from major pediatric and psychiatric organizations."
Last month, Hutchinson himself "signed into law a ban on transgender girls competing in school sports consistent with their gender identity, as well as a bill allowing doctors to refuse treatment to a patient based on religious or moral objections," the Post noted.
In light of the GOP's nationwide legislative attacks on trans people, the ACLU said that "lawmakers across the country should take note."
"If they don't, we'll be just as loud," the group added. "Trans people BELONG."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy