Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed LD 535 into law Tuesday, which means minors aged 16 and 17 can receive hormone therapies prescribed to alter their physical sexual characteristics without parental consent and despite parental objections.
The bill uses the phrase “gender-affirming hormone therapy,” which it defines as “nonsurgical, medically necessary health care that respects the gender identity of the patient, as experienced and defined by the patient.”
Under the new law, 16- and 17-year-olds “diagnosed with gender dysphoria by a health care professional” may be provided “gender-affirming hormone therapy” without the consent of a parent if they inform their health care provider that they “discussed” their gender dysphoria with “a parent or guardian” who subsequently “refused to support treatment.”
The Legislature approved the bill last month in a nearly-partisan vote.
The House roll call vote of 73-60 fell nearly along party lines, with Rep. Sawin Millett (R-Waterford) joining the Democrats in support of the bill, and Rep. Kevin O’Connell (D-Brewer) and Rep. Traci Gere (D-Kennebunkport) joining the Republicans in opposition.
The Senate approved the bill in a roll call vote of 20-14 which was also largely partisan, as Sen. Joseph M. Baldacci (D-Penobscot) and Sen. David P. LaFountain (D-Kennebec) joined the Republicans in opposition to the legislation.
During floor debates, legislators on both sides of the aisle offered comments on the bill.
Rep. Nina Milliken (D-Blue Hill) spoke in favor of the bill.
“I rise in support of my numerous loved ones and friends who are trans and have been that way since before their 16th birthdays. I rise as a teacher who knows and trusts teenagers to make decisions about their own bodies. And I rise as a mother who hopes that my children will access medically necessary care, with or without my knowledge, if they feel they cannot come to me safely to discuss that care,” Rep. Milliken said.
Rep. Lucas Lanigan (R-Sanford) offered comment in opposition.
“I have a little problem with a 16 year old being able to make this dramatic of a change to their body, however, they can’t buy a ticket to a rated R movie without their parents’ permission. I just feel this is another bill that we’re just going too far on where we’re taking the rights of parents away,” Rep. Lanigan said,
At the close of his remarks, Lanigan further clarified his position on the bill. “It’s nothing against the trans community. I’m 100% supportive of what people want to do,” he said. “I’m a big believer of choice.”
Gov. Mills has not issued a statement directly speaking to her support of the bill.
Apparently, Austin Powers and her Marxist pals don’t believe in this song by the Oakridge Boys:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPN4gXBL1JA especially this lyric, “The nearest thing to Heaven is a child.”
What an evil person the Governor is!
Is this her answer to Sound of Freedom? God help the teachers, the doctors, the social workers, and the politicians that enable this evil. I know I don’t speak only for myself. Do this to my child and no amount of prison time will deter me from retribution.
This is a payoff to Big Pharma and the Gender Radicals in the Democratic Party. Pfizer will make millions on the misery of our children.
This is so evil….
From the Wall Street Journal: Every systematic review of evidence to date, including one published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, has found the evidence for mental-health benefits of hormonal interventions for minors to be of low or very low certainty. By contrast, the risks are significant and include sterility, lifelong dependence on medication and the anguish of regret. For this reason, more and more European countries and international professional organizations now recommend psychotherapy rather than hormones and surgeries as the first line of treatment for gender-dysphoric youth.
Dr. Hammes’s claim that gender transition reduces suicides is contradicted by every systematic review, including the review published by the Endocrine Society, which states, “We could not draw any conclusions about death by suicide.” There is no reliable evidence to suggest that hormonal transition is an effective suicide-prevention measure.
The lawmakers that jammed this through for Pride month are science deniers and ignorant.
Insane to think a minor could make this decision….they are not considered old enough to vote…but yet they are old enough to change genders??? These are children we are talking about…..Something is very wrong with Janel Mills or anyone who thinks this is ok….
Maine is no place to raise children. The state will do all it can to subvert parental rights and indoctrinate children into their perverted agenda via the public school and mainstream medical systems. But the Dems cry about families leaving Maine and the dwindling number of young skilled workers staying here after graduation. “Its unsustainable”….we must bring in immigrants to replace those workers leaving. Connect the dots folks.
Plain DISGUSTING
She was a Step Mom for 5 girls. WOW
Didn’t learn much
UNBELIEVABLE. Plain sickening. DISGUSTING
Boys do NOT mature until 28-30 years old
Girls will just go along with the rest ( 16-17 year olds have NO clue what they want in life. I know I was there once. But Never was thinking of being the other sex. Gross Can’t legally purchase alcohol, cigarettes,& or join military.
WHO is PAYING for these meds if Parents do not know. I better not be. I’ll quit my job.
And then they will all realize they made a mistake & end their lives.
Pfizer & everyone else makes $$$
DISGUSTING world. Maine is not what it used to be.
Glad I’m in last chapter of my life. Girls want to be boys , boys want to be girls. DISGRACEFUL
What a fucking waste of air this woman is and anyone that voted for her or anyone like her
I do not bother to read the major one – owner Maine newspapers, but am thinking this disgusting signing by the governor received little to none, coverage.
What a poor resemblance to former Maine values we are now seeing coming out of Augusta today..