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.