"Active Support for Minors' Gender Transition" vs "Regret It When They Grow Up"

US Divided: Republican Opposition - Democratic Support
Recent Approval of Kansas City 'LGBTQ+ Sanctuary City' Declaration Resolution

The United States has split into two camps over allowing gender transition for minors. Republican-leaning states and cities are banning it, saying "they may regret it when they become adults," while Democratic-leaning progressive areas are declaring themselves protectors, calling it an "individual right."

According to the Associated Press and local media on the 12th (local time), Kansas City, the largest city in Missouri, declared the day before that it would become an ‘LGBTQ+ sanctuary city’ supporting gender transition for minors. The city approved a resolution declaring itself an ‘LGBTQ+ sanctuary city’ and decided to actively support those who want gender transition treatment and the medical professionals providing such services. In other words, even if minors receive gender transition treatments such as puberty blockers, hormones, or surgeries, neither the patients nor the medical staff will be punished.

ABC News reported that the states declaring themselves as sanctuaries for gender transition surgeries are California, Minnesota, and Washington, and the cities are Chicago, Minneapolis, and West Hollywood (California). Kansas City became the fourth city with this declaration.

The Associated Press commented, “This move by Democratic-leaning Kansas City differentiates it from Missouri, which is led by a Republican governor and a majority Republican legislature.”

Protest Held Against Transgender Opposition Bill Passed in Kentucky, USA
(Frankfort AP=Yonhap News) On the 29th (local time), citizens protested in front of the Kentucky State Capitol located in Frankfort, Kentucky, against the transgender opposition bill passed by the state House and Senate. The bill prohibits gender transition treatments for transgender minors, does not allow them to use restrooms according to their gender identity rather than their biological sex, and bans discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in schools. 2023.03.30
yerin4712@yna.co.kr

Kansas City’s declaration came just one day after the Missouri legislature, led by Republicans, passed a bill restricting gender transition treatments for minors and some adults. Mike Parson, the Republican governor of Missouri, plans to sign the bill soon.

Additionally, Andrew Bailey, the Republican Missouri Attorney General, proposed a measure requiring at least one year of expert counseling before surgery for those seeking gender transition, and the court is reportedly reviewing this.

The Republican side emphasizes, “Minors who undergo gender transition surgery may deeply regret it later,” and states that the ban on gender transition for minors aims to protect children. Before Missouri, 15 states had already legally restricted gender transition surgeries for minors.

However, Democrats argue that such restrictions limit the rights of sexual minorities. Kansas City stated, “Even if Missouri criminalizes gender transition for minors, Kansas City will place it at the lowest priority.”

Quinton Lucas, the Democratic mayor of Kansas City, emphasized, “Kansas City wants to be a city that welcomes and embraces everyone, including transgender and LGBTQ+ community members, and where they can feel safe.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.