The Maine Legislature’s Judiciary Committee held a work session Wednesday afternoon on a proposed bill LD 1735, “An Act to Safeguard Gender-affirming Healthcare,” a controversial measure modeled after a California bill.
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The bill would allow out-of-state children to seek “gender-affirming” care in Maine such as breast binding, penis tucking, puberty blockers, hormone treatments, or surgeries —over their parents objections.
Supporters say LD 1735 would create a safe haven in Maine for minors looking to get transgender drug and surgery treatments that may be illegal in their homes states. It would accomplish this by blocking the Maine law enforcement from reuniting a child with their parents if they were brought into Maine for those treatments.
Under LD 1735, a Maine court may take “temporary jurisdiction” of a child seeking “gender-affirming care” in the state if that child has been unable to access those treatments elsewhere.
Polly Crozier, Director of Family Advocacy at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and a registered lobbyist, spoke at Wednesday’s work session to answer the Judiciary Committee’s questions on the bill.
Rep. Rachel Henderson (R-Rumford) asked Crozier if she supported gender-affirming care for both minors and adults being legalized in all 50 states, to which Crozier said yes.
The most recent version of LD 1735 available to the public doesn’t include any age-based restrictions.
LD 1735 was not scheduled into Wednesday’s work session until late Tuesday night, making it difficult for any expert other than the representative from GLAD to be present.
Rep. Matt Moonen (D-Portland) was the co-chair presiding over Wednesday’s Judiciary work session on LD 1735.
In 2022 Rep. Moonen reported that he was employed as the executive director of the Equality Maine Foundation, an arm of a pro-LGBTQ organization that lists LD 1735 as one of the legislative items on their “current agenda.”
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Moonen has also reported income from self-employment with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.
Maine’s Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris Taub said in the work session that the Attorney General’s Office does not have any concerns about enforcing the bill, and that they do not find any further necessary changes to the bill.
After taking a caucus break, Rep. Jennifer Poirier (R-Skowhegan) told Moonen that the Republican Committee members would be more comfortable with a carry over on LD 1735 to give the bill a more thorough vetting.
A motion to carry the bill over to the next Committee session passed by a show of hands.
Opponents of the bill characterized the motion as a victory.
“It was a huge win for us, because it will give Republicans and conservatives as a whole nine more months to expose the gender transitioning myth,” said Rep. Katrina Smith (R-Palermo.
1 Comment
The proponents of sex changes for minors want legal protection for Big Pharma and Doctors that profit from misery. Follow the money.