Shackleford amendments on Senate Bill 480 rejected

Four amendments authored by State Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis) to Senate Bill 480 were rejected today, with the vast majority of Republicans voting against them. Senate Bill 480 prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender minors in Indiana. As gender reassignment surgery is not provided to anyone under the age of 18 in this state, the legislation would prohibit psychologists and other health care professionals from providing gender-identity intervention and would force minors who were already receiving reversible hormone therapy to stop their treatments.

Shackleford's amendments would have:

• Allowed minors who were already receiving hormone therapy as of June 2023 to continue their treatment
• Removed the prohibition on hormone therapy and reversible puberty blockers while still prohibiting surgical intervention
• Allowed therapies to continue only if a physician determined it was in the best interest of the minor and parents/guardians have given informed consent
• Created a civil cause of action against the state if cutting off gender transition therapy caused a child measurable harm

“Transgender people, especially transgender children, are already one of our most vulnerable demographics,” Shackleford said. “While our goal in the legislature is to keep children safe, I firmly believe that parents, their child and medical professionals are best equipped to determine the best course of action. My amendments were an effort to make this bad bill a bit better for transgender children, their families and their doctors. I'm disappointed House Republicans chose playing politics over empowering families to make the best decisions for themselves. Transgender youth are already at high risk for suicide, and I worry that this legislation will only raise the risk for transgender kids in Indiana. I am pro-family, and to me, that means giving Hoosier families the freedom to make decisions in the best interest of their unique family dynamic without interference from the General Assembly. It's a shame the vast majority of Indiana Republicans didn't feel that way.”