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Bill to ban acts such as drag queen shows (USA)
The Florida Senate passed a Protection of Children bill, which targets venues with a liquor license that allows children to be present during an “adult performance” where sexually explicit acts have occurred. Democrats argued that the bill specifically targeted drag shows and the LGBT community, and it would lead to violence and curtail freedom of expression. The bill is still going through the committee process in the House of Representatives, but Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign it into law after conducting an investigation into drag shows where children were present and exposed to sexually explicit acts.
Request for listing as “neutral sex” has been turned down (France)
In the question of whether it should be allowed to add other sexes than male and female on civil documents, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) states that it is important to preserve the consistency and security of civil status records, keeping the status either male or female. A request from an intersex person to change the official gender to “neutral sex” was turned down. The European Court of Human Rights supports France in their decision to keep the sexes binary and also said that each country should decide how it wants to handle the issue of gender on birth certificates.
Bill passed to ban transgender health care for minors (USA)
In the afternoon of Thursday, the bill was able to secure a 15-6 vote in favour during the House committee session, causing visible outrage among many. It was promptly forwarded to the full House for further deliberation and underwent several hours of debate before eventually receiving approval and being returned to the Senate for concurrence.
Here’s what the amended version of the bill includes:
- School districts must create explicit bathroom policies
- Bans gender-affirming care for anyone under the age of 18, including surgical and non-surgical procedures like puberty blockers
- Schools can’t discuss sexual orientation or gender identity with students regardless of age
- If healthcare providers provide gender-affirming care to minors their licenses will be revoked
- The school district would notify parents of any mental health services relating to human sexuality
The audacity to live (Belgium)
Claire Dirks has a genetic neurodegenerative disease. Two years ago, her father, suffering from the same disease, chose euthanasia. In a webinar, Claire testifies about the impact of euthanasia on relatives. She describes her successive shocks: the announcement of her father’s choice, the speed of the procedure (1 month), the procedure itself (her father had 3 interviews with a psychologist via skype). Claire understands there are caregivers who defend life but deplores that very often the medical profession does not offer alternative options and at times even encourages the process. Euthanasia is not an alternative to suffering, which is part of life. Claire defends the audacity to live. Being ready to help and support remains a duty in our individualized society.
Tavistock gender clinic to close down (UK)
Established in 1989, Gender Identity Development Services of Tavistock Clinic had to close down in April 2022. Their services prescribed puberty blockers to more than 1000 children, many under 16 years of age, questioning their gender identity. A book written by Hannah Barnes, examines how the clinic shifted from examining distressed teenagers, using therapy to work out how best to help them, to becoming a conveyor belt to puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and drastic surgery. The book is a cautionary tale about the dangers of institutions putting profit over patient welfare and the importance of collecting and scrutinizing evidence. It also exposes the nervousness of clinicians in speaking up, despite growing concerns about the clinic’s direction, and the wilful failure to safeguard the wellbeing of children seeking help.
Children can decide (USA)
A proposed bill in Oregon would allow children of any age to obtain abortion, contraception, sterilization, and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases without parental consent. Oregon HB 2002 defines “reproductive health care” to include family planning, contraception, pregnancy termination services, fertility care, sterilization services, treatments for sexually transmitted infections and reproductive cancers, and any other health care and medical services related to reproductive health. Children, 15 or older, can also consent to gender-affirming treatment, including facial feminization surgery, which would be paid for by the Oregon Health Authority. Parents of children under 15 may be notified, but such communication would not be required. This bill is considered a blatant cultural imperialism and may lead to secession movements in some conservative eastern counties of Oregon.