In a shocking move that makes Texas‘s recent proposed anti-trans rules pale in comparison. Republican Rep. Bruce Skaug has sponsored a new bill which would make it a felony even to prescribe hormones or puberty blockers to a young person.

Idaho House State Affairs Committee approved House Bill 675 on Friday which would add these procedures along with  gender-affirmation surgery (which is not generally performed on minors anyway) to existing state laws banning female genital mutilation.

Republican Rep. Bruce Skaug claims such treatment causes medical problems and that young people aren’t mature enough to make decisions about gender confirmation. In a statement, he said: “If we do not allow minors to get a tattoo, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, sign a legal contract, why would we allow them to go through these physical mutilations because of their feelings at the time.”

Of course what WOULD be sensible would be to actually speak to trans youth about such procedures who see them unsurprisingly as quite the opposite to Mr Skaug. Trans youth and their allies have pointed out that these procedures are lifesaving.

Eve Devitt, a 16-year-old trans girl who had suicidal thoughts before beginning treatment said during a debate on the bill: “By voting yes on House Bill 675, you are voting to kill me and other kids just like me,” Eve Devitt, a 16-year-old trans girl who had suicidal thoughts before beginning treatment, testified during debate on the bill.

A trans man who began his medical transition at 15 and is now a college student, Calvin Udall, also spoke at the debate and made similar comments: “The years before I was given access to gender-affirming health care were the worst years of my life.”

Attacks on trans youth just seem to go further and further each time. Whilst President Biden speaks out in support of LGBTQ+ people often, the Republican held states just seem to be trying to outdo themselves with more and more vile anti-trans bills designed to score political points, no matter what the cost.