NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee Majority Leaders William Lamberth, R-Portland, and Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, introduced the "Protecting Children from Gender Mutilation Act" which would ban medical interference that "alters a child’s hormonal balance and procedures that remove their organs to enable the minor to identify as a gender different from their biological sex."
The bill would also require the attorney general to establish a process for reporting violations and would allow children to bring civil causes against parents if they consented on the minor's behalf.
The legislation would allow courts to impose a $25,000 penalty for each violation.
The bill states that a health care provider that knowingly violates "within 20 years of the violation" may have action taken against them.
Johnson feels so strongly about it, he made it the first bill filled for the 2023 legislative session. "So I thought it was important that we take the opportunity to get something filed as soon as possible," he said. "We love these kids, we want them to get the care that they need. What we don't want to do though is to do irreparable damage to their bodies that can’t be undone. That’s a decision that should be left to someone who is an adult."
Video taken from an unspecified meeting at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, posted by conservative commentator Matt Walsh, inspired Sen. Johnson and Rep. William Lamberth to write the legislation, with direct help from Walsh. "Obviously, there were intentions to do more of these kind of procedures moving forward, so I think our timing is right to just go ahead and make it a state policy that these procedures will not be allowed," said Leader Johnson.
Vanderbilt later clarified they have never performed any type of procedure removing or altering genitalia on a minor. They also say, on average, they only perform gender-affirmative care on five minor patients a year, and they must obtain parental consent to do so.
Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, calls this a non-issue. "This is bill number one for the most powerful people in the state of Tennessee?" said Clemmons. "They’re trying to score political points on something that doesn’t affect 99.99% of Tennessee families. They think they can score political points on it and try to position themselves to win a Republican primary in a couple of years, but that’s not our job."
However, Rep. Clemmons declined to take a position on the bill itself. "We’ll talk to the people, if any are actually affected by this. It obviously takes aim at health care providers yet again. So we’ll talk to actual people who practice medicine in the state of Tennessee and get their feedback. And we’ll make a decision on where to go and how to approach it from there," he said.
Sen. Johnson says VUMC was not consulted in crafting Senate Bill and House Bill 1. "We welcome their thoughts and input into the legislation but I am committed to making sure that these procedures are banned in Tennessee," said Johnson.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center declined to comment on this story.
The 113th Tennessee General Assembly is scheduled to convene in January 2023.
