Transgender surgery ban passes in North Carolina House

RALEIGH — The North Carolina GOP-controlled House approved a bill Wednesday that would bar transgender youth from getting gender-affirming surgeries until they turn 18, The Associated Press reported.

The proposal does not allow doctors to perform surgeries on minors to “remove or alter features typical of a patient’s sex assigned at birth.”

The bill that passed with a 74-44 vote heads to the Senate.

Republicans hold a veto-proof majority in the General Assembly.

The proposed measure would take effect Oct. 1 and would also ban the use of state funds to perform gender-affirming procedures on patients under 18.

That could restrict access to some hormone treatments and other medications.

Physicians in the state would be unable to refer a minor to another healthcare provider to receive gender-affirming surgeries.

The AP contributed to this report.

VIDEO: Transgender people can correct sex on North Carolina birth records

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