Recently, many states across the country have been issuing restrictions on gender transition care for minors. From Idaho to Florida, lawmakers have passed similar legislation. Indiana is no exception. Senate Bill 480, which recently passed the Indiana house and senate, seeks to ban gender treatment for anyone under the age of 18 throughout the state.
There is controversy over how this will affect minors who have already started transitioning. One Bloomington mother, Beth Clawson, is worried for her nine-year-old transgender daughter, Kirin.
Beth and her husband Nathaniel Clawson first allowed Kirin to socially transition at the age of two, when they saw signs that she was not comfortable with the gender she was assigned at birth. The family sought advice from medical professionals, and soon realized that their child may have been telling them something they never expected. Since then, they say Kirin has not wavered at all regarding her gender identity.
Beth Clawson explains her experience as a mother of a transgender child.
While Kirin does not currently take hormone treatment, Senate Bill 480 would ban her access to puberty blockers, which she is scheduled to begin taking in the near future. According to her mother, this would severely impact Kirin’s ability to express herself.
“This ban would, really, force Kirin to experience male puberty,” Beth said, “I think that would be uncomfortable for her, and very damaging to her mental health.” She says the ban will force her and her husband to seek gender care from other sources.
One possibility is for Kirin to receive hormone therapy from outside the state. Although Beth says that other statewide bans and high demand for care could mean long waiting lists.
Outside of the effects of the ban, the Clawsons worry about Kirin’s future as she leaves elementary school. With the recent House Bill 1041 prohibiting transgender girls from playing on girls’ sports teams, they are unsure if they will be able to find a league for Kirin to compete in. This bill was passed amid recent concern over unfair competition against trans students in middle school and high school sports.
“My kid’s mental health is more important than your kid’s trophy,” Nathaniel said in regard to the bill.
Beth Clawson does not see these bills as separate issues, but part of a coordinated attack against the rights of transgender people across the country.
Bruce Snelling explains what the LGBTQ+ Culture Center does on campus.
The effects of this ban would also be felt on IU’s campus. Bruce Snelling is the director of IU’s LGBTQ+ Culture Center, which provides resources and hosts events for students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Snelling is concerned about what this ban could mean for the center’s operations and the transgender students who are still under 18.
“We do have transgender students here who are under 18,” Snelling explained, “while we don’t provide care directly, we would no longer be able to give those resources to younger students.” While Snelling is concerned about the recent bills surrounding gender identity, he feels confident that the culture center has a secure place on IU’s campus in the future.
Despite the concern, many others are supportive of senate bill 480. Spencer Levitt, a member of the College Republicans at IU, sees Senate Bill 480 as a necessary step to protect children.
“There are a ton of decisions that you have to be an adult to make,” Levitt said, “It makes sense that something like taking hormones should be one of those.”
Governor Holcomb will soon decide to sign or veto this bill, at which point it will be passed as law or sent back for another vote. Whichever is the outcome, one thing is certain: people in Indiana from both sides of the aisle will be waiting with bated breath.
