Gov. Chris Sununu (R.N.H.) signed a bill Friday that prohibits health care professionals from performing gender-affirming surgeries on minors.
Sununu signed another bill that will ban transgender athletes from competing on school sports teams that align with their gender identity.
The third bill signed by the governor allows parents to exclude their children from teaching in public schools that involves “sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or gender expression”.
He vetoed a fourth bill that would have allowed businesses to separate bathrooms and locker rooms based on biological sex.
Legislation on gender-affirming surgeries passed the Republican-led New Hampshire state House in January. It initially sought to ban all gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and hormones, for minors, but was later changed to include only genital surgeries.
Surgeries are already rare for minors, and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and the Endocrine Society do not recommend them for anyone under 18.
In a release FridaySununu’s office said the bill focuses on “protecting the health and safety of New Hampshire’s children and has won bipartisan support.”
“There is a reason why countries around the world – from Sweden to Norway, France and the United Kingdom – have taken action to halt these procedures and policies.”
Earlier this month, the Biden administration said it opposes gender-affirming surgery for transgender minors, deviating from previous statements that broadly support care for LGTBQ youth.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
