Bill to ban youth gender confirmation surgery introduced

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislation that would make it illegal to perform gender confirmation surgery on juveniles was introduced in the Idaho House State Affairs Committee on Tuesday. Rep. Bruce Skaug, a Republican from Nampa, said the bill would modify the state’s current law against female genital mutilation to include boys and make it clear that performing gender confirmation surgery on a child is a felony. The proposal includes exceptions for birth defects and chromosomal disorders. Skaug said the bill is needed because the surgeries may be irreversible and he thinks a juvenile is too young to make that decision. The legislation was introduced on a 13-1 vote.