Meeting Public Comments

Vanessa La Mar []

Please, do not support this bill.Transgender healthcare for children is a crucial aspect of ensuring that every child can live a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life. Medical care for transgender children is a necessary and lifesaving intervention, and it is essential to recognize the importance of providing this care to young people.One of the most significant benefits of transgender healthcare for children is that it can help alleviate the intense psychological distress that many transgender young people experience. Transgender children often suffer from anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues related to their gender identity. Access to healthcare that addresses their gender identity can provide them with the necessary support to feel accepted and valued. This can lead to improved mental health outcomes and help prevent selfharm, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts.No one is saying that all children who say they are transgender need to transition. That is a choice between the Child, The Family, and Their Medical/Mental Healthcare teams. We only request access. Access which is supported by a wealth of scientific backing.

LeAnn Gulrud []

Please Please do not support this bill. Please leave this between Dr/child/Therapist and parents. Why is this even being discussed by people that have no clue what the life of a transgender is like. Seriously.. has anyone actually sat at talked to a transgender child..and really listened? I have watched my Granddaughter grow into herself since she was three.. even 2.. when she would not been happy with a boy toy.. for birthdays, Christmas. Did we think maybe it was a phase she was going through, yes. But grow out of it.. SHE NEVER DID. I love her with all my heart. What the State of Iowa is doing to her.. breaks my heart Its like the worst case of bullying I have ever seen.. and being done by adults that are supposed to help children of our State. Please!!! Reach deep down into your heart and do not hurt my Granddaughter Gavy, any more than what has already been done to her. Imagine loving a transgender child as much as I do.. and watch the State I was born and raised.. squash that childs spirit.. over and over again. That is our life.

Michelle Miller []

I am writing to urge you to not pass this bill. It is quite clear that those of you in support of this bill do not know, love or support someone who is transgender. Therefore, you have absolutely no insight on the topic, and are making very important decisions that will affect this population in ways you cant imagine. Listen to those who love and support this very small population. Listen to their doctors, who specialize in their care. My niece is transgender, and is on hormone replacement therapy. She is living her truth, despite the backlash of those who refuse to accept her for who she is. I fear for her mental health and well being if you pass this bill. Please, please leave these kids alone! Do not pass this bill

Robert Kremer []

Please do not support this. Passing this will show our youth that their home does not see them as valid. This is appalling. Do not let this state turns its back on its own people. Trans rights are human rights.

Cynthia Aloe []

This bill saddens me, frustrates me and I strongly oppose it. Health care should be a basic human right and shouldnt be politicized or threatened based on gender, sexual orientation or gender identity. Having healthcare providers working with families to help transgender youth in this part of their journey is helping to save lives. I believe taking this away from youths that have been receiving care or have been brave enough to have these conversations is putting them in danger. Thoughts and prayers wont help. Please use your voice to oppose this bill and stop more hate based legislation.

Sarah Hale []

I encourage you to follow the guidelines for care set by medical professionals. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends ageappropriate gender affirming care for youth, as does the American Association of Family Physicians. Audies have already found that study has found that transgender and gender questioning youth are at higher risk of several serious health risks, including bullying and suicidal thoughts, compared to their cisgender peers.

Jean Hitchman []

This bill does not support my transgender child and, therefore, I cannot support this bill.

Kari Callahan []

I am in opposition to this bill. Pushing this bill forward contradicts decisions being made by the same group of people in the capitol building. If it is truly believed that families/parents/students come first in choosing where to go to school, why is it that its being considered to remove some of those families/parents/students ability to choose what is in their own family members best interest physically, mentally, and emotionally? These families reach out to the people who know what they are talking about: doctors, therapists, etc. They dont reach out to the government because they dont need your help making decisions for them, their families, and their children in this matter. LGBTQ people will not go away. They will not disappear if these things are ripped away from them. They will still be there. But they will need our help more than they do now. The damage this bill could do to some of the youth of our LGBTQ community should be more concerning than its being made by the people proposing this ugly bill. Id like to send off with a question Im not sure I can even answer: Who would this bill truly benefit?

Dessie Sliekers []

I strongly OPPOSE this bill and urge you to vote NO on it. Providing trans kids the gender affirming care they needs is life threatening. Listen to doctors and let families make their own choices.

Cathryn Varga []

Why are we telling families and their doctors what they cant do? Why cant you accept what people need and not try to control their children? Is this freedom? How does this help us as a society? Why do you think this is an important thing to be working on when Iowa has so many other urgent useful work worth doing? Just let people who are different from you live there lives in peace and try to be kind.

Melissa McAllister [Dungeon's Gate]

I am a small business owner and resident in Ankeny, Iowa. I volunteer weekly in the schools, working with students directly. I am writing to you to beg you to vote no on SSB1197. This bill is incredibly dangerous and harmful to students who are in the LGBTQ community. I am the parent of a teenage transgender daughter and SSB1197 greatly concerns me as I have personally seen the positive impact of gender affirming care. Prior to our daughter accessing genderaffirming care, she experienced crippling anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. She did not use the restroom at school for the entirety of 9th grade. Since receiving genderaffirming care, she is not only attending classes, she is voluntarily participating in two after school clubs. The genderaffirming care of HRT has helped my daughter to feel more like she sees herself. Suddenly not having access to genderaffirming care would be so, so detrimental to our daughters mental health. If this bill becomes law, it will be unsustainable for us to remain in Iowa. We would have to close our successful small business and move out of the state.SSB1197 would criminalize best practice medical care for transgender youthcare that is backed by every major American medical organization, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. SSB1197 will negatively impact the mental health of LGBTQ youth at a time when its already in crisisa recent study shows 44% of LGBTQ youth in Iowa seriously considered suicide in the last year compared to 18% of nonLGBTQ youth.SSB1197 amounts to discrimination against transgender minors by denying them access to medically necessary care. Moreover, SSB1197 impedes the fundamental right of parents to make medical decisions for their minor children. Exclusion of gender affirming care also violates the Affordable Care Act and puts the state of Iowa at risk. As a mom of a transgender child, I beg you to vote NO on SSB1197.Melissa McAllisterAnkeny, Iowa

Nicole Scott []

Health care for minors should be decided between doctors, parents, and the students. The government should stay out of these decisions. Vote no.

Mary Jardon []

Please do not punish transgender students their burden is difficult enough with put your attached. If parents and Drs. Assess a minor and approve transgender care then it isnt the business of government.

Rachel Braunigan []

This bill will hurt kids in Iowa.

Elizabeth Lundberg []

I am strongly opposed to this bill and I urge you to listen to experts on transgender health and vote no. I am the mother of a trans girl and I need to be able to follow the advice of every reputable medical and psychological organization in the world when making decisions about her care. What about my parental rights? Dont I have the right to support my daughters health and safety? Gender affirming care drastically reduces the rate of suicidality among trans children. It is undertaken cautiously and judiciously with multiple examinations by multiple providers at every step. And it is something cisgender children receive and would continue to receive under this bill any time their pediatrician monitors their health throughout puberty and makes recommendations and writes prescriptions as needed, so this bill is blatant discrimination against a small and vulnerable population. Please listen to all the experts and those affected by these bills and stop attacking my family.

Courtney Collier []

Please VOTE yes on SSB 1197Research shows us that the prefrontal cortex does not fully develop until after age 25, we must therefore lovingly protect our minors from making permanent and life altering medical decisions during the time in which they are discovering who they are as they become adults.We must also protect minor children from being encouraged to participate in life altering medical procedures and medical products, by doctors or medical professionals who seek to profit from their impressionability and vulnerability. There is big money in these treatments and surgeries. As this trendy cultural phenomenon of youth who identify as trans continues to unfold, more people are coming forward to discuss their detransition as well as the ways they have been misled and even coerced into these devastating life altering medications and surgeries by medical professionals. We must wisely protect minor Iowans from this.

Andrea Geary []

To the heartless, morally bankrupt legislators who will pass these bills whilst knowing their actions will result in the death of our children: what is the payoff? Will a $15k ADF donation to your next campaign allow you to sleep at night? Does the promise of a someday cabinet appointment allow you to overlook the fact that youve darkened your familys name & that your ancestors will only speak of you in hushed tones thru grimaces of shame? No logical plea, established scientific fact, or sharing of personal experience will sway you. Each of you: a disgraceful stain upon our state.

Emily Welder []

Please do not support this bill. I am a family medicine physician practicing in Iowa. This bill impinges on the patientdoctorparent relationship and rights of access to care. It is already illegal for doctors to treat without consent of the parent. I cannot administer a flu shot to a child let alone provide medical or surgical treatment without consent of the child and parent/guardian. This bill threatens litigation of doctors who even refer patients for care they need who would want to come and practice in this state? Gender dysphoria is a true medical entity. If not treated, there are numerous mental health conditions which develop as a result. We need more mental health care already. This bill is reinforcing hate and providing further barriers to access of care for an already marginalized group of people.

Weylin Smith []

This bill is a travesty it helps no one and hurts people who want to be their true selves! We always hear about individual rights and yet bring bills forward that destroy that right. You can not legislate a persons rights to do and be whatever they want when it is not hurting others!

Jon Cross [Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska]

You need to vote no on this bill. As the father of a Trans son, the care he has received has been a lifesaver. He was close to suicide over this. You need to let parents and doctors make these decisions. There is nothing that is done quickly in instituting this care. As a father and a lifelong resident of this state, I implore you to vote no and not continue this bill.

Jill Bjorklund []

VOTE NO on this dangerous bill that will cause arguably the most vulnerable population among us to experience elevated rates of depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, selfharm, and suicide. This bill would forcibly detransition trans youth receiving standard medical care from their doctors. How is the party of limited government inserting itself between patients and doctors and between youth and their parents. What about the "parent rights" I heard so much about during the election? When do I get to exercise mine? Banning this healthcare will cause great harm to trans youth and will kick our queer neighbors on out the door to safe states like Illinois and Minnesota. This will have a ripple effect in our insurance companies/policies as well. Don't have a kneejerk reaction to blatant misinformation and do not BAN the right for trans people to exist and pursue happiness in Iowa. Oh and you know what else is irreversible? Puberty. My family will be forced to flee the state to protect our trans daughter's happiness and safety. This does not reflect Iowa values. Vote NO.

David Alexander []

Please vote yes on this bill! Stop the lies and madness! It's unfortunate that we need bills to legislate common sense.

Brent Buhr []

As a physician, I care for everyone, including LGBT individuals. ALL patients expect their autonomy and personal needs to be respected. Patients become most frightened when this is violated.This legislation violates that needed autonomy, especially for young people. The WORST thing you can do is convince kids NOT to trust their instincts and identity. It leads to low self esteem, poor skill acquisition, depression and suicide.How many dead kids from suicide do we need to prove these care restrictions are devastating to them???Please do not pass this through committee. I dont want to have more patients and their family members die.Dr. Brent Buhr

Jen Aiello []

Please do not pursue this bill. Parents need options to help their kids with gender identity issues. I don't want to be regulated on what I can and cannot do for my kids.

Mindy Kruckenberg []

I am writing as an empathetic human and public high school teacher to implore you NOT to pass this bill. Leave this incredibly important decisions to people, their families and doctors. STOP trying to make our loved ones who happen to be nonbinary feel "less than." Lives are literally at stake. Do the right thing.

Pastor David Borger Germann []

Vote no on this bill. As a Christian pastor, my faith teaches me to see God's image in transgender people of all ages and to honor their full Godgiven agency and selfdetermination. Also, the standards of care that determine treatment of transgender youth are methodical and arduous. The guidelines for care are endorsed by every major US medical organization. And parental consent is necessary. This is about parental choice just as much as it is about bestpractice medical care.

Nicole VanderLinden []

Please vote NO on this bill. It's a serious misconception to say that genderaffirming care for minors is political or part of an "agenda." That could not be further from the truth. As a parent who entered this journey with a lot of ignorance, I can tell you that this care is not nearly as controversial in the medical field as some politicians present. Every major medical association supports genderaffirming care as the standard of care, and these conclusions were not reached willynilly or because people wanted to harm children. These conclusions were made conservatively, and carefully, and slowly based on all available data over decades. The process of transitioning is extremely careful and as noninvasive as possible. It requires an entire medical and psychiatric team's longterm observation. It does not, in the vast majority of cases, involve surgery. In an era when parental rights are often discussed, it's a travesty that so many families should be denied established and datasupported health care in Iowa. Shouldn't medical practitioners and those directly impacted have a voice in medically necessary decisions determined by goldstandard doctors? Shouldn't we listen to what decades of research have told us? On top of the mountain of evidence, I and so many other parents could tell you a wealth of personal stories about how lifechanging (in a GOOD way) genderaffirming care is for minors. Please show Iowans that we value our youths' mental health and physical safety. Please vote NO on HSB 214.

Lindsey Ellickson []

Im commenting in opposition to this bill today.For several months, I watched as Iowa Republicans talked about parental choice, and I watched the testimony from the doctors for the oversight hearing regarding gender confirming care.No medication is given to kids without parental knowledge and consent, doctors visits arent made without parental knowledge and consent, youre eliminating parental choice.In the meantime, this attack will force some to flee the state and will force other kids to detransition. The work theyve done will be rolled back, and I hope, desperately hope, that all of these people still make it to 18.My own kid may or may not want to have blockers or hormones, theyve been out as trans for over a year now, but that decision between us and our doctors.

Jennifer Briggs []

I am in full support of this bill SSB 1197. This is the definition of common sense and social acceptability. The definition has not change, ideologies have, and that is not the fault of those who do not participate in said ideologies. Common sense! Pass this bill.

Karen Butler []

I am the mother of a child who identifies as queer nonbinary. My child was assigned female at birth, and late last year, at the age of 16, they received gender affirming top surgery. You need to understand that our journey to that day of surgery was not a rash or impulsive one. It was weeks that turned into months that turned into years of extensive conversations listening to our child and hearing their experience, and understanding their distress. It involved multiple consultations with primary care and specialty physicians as well as mental health professionals. In the end, my husband and I made what we believed to be the best choice for our child. My husband and I love our children more than anything in the world, and when we made the choice to have children, we accepted all the responsibilities that come with that, including the promise to love them, support them, provide for their needs, and protect them. You need to understand that the legislation currently under consideration is a threat to LGBTQ youth, but it is also a stunning and egregious threat to parental rights. With the onset of puberty my child realized that their developing body had begun to betray them, despite wishing to themselves for yearsliterally, as far back as they can rememberthat maybe, somehow, they would get lucky and their body would fail to develop breasts. No such luck came to my child; instead, as their body developed, they were wracked with a torment of feeling trapped inside a body that was not really theirs. They began to withdraw, physically and emotionally. They experienced severe gender dysphoria and all the emotions that come with that. They suffered from depression and anxiety and disordered eating because of the harsh disconnect between who they knew they were and how they felt in their body. In response, we did what any loving parents would do. We sought professional help. We read volumes. We had a huge learning curve. I understand that the immensity of a procedure like gender affirming top surgery is difficult for many people to understand. And I assure you this was not something we went into lightly. We talked to the professionals. We talked to our child, we listened to our child, and we trusted our child. Ultimately, we knew it was the right thing to do for our child. But in the end, in our sacred and legal duty as parents, WE made the choice.When the legislature earlier this year approved school vouchers that would allow public dollars to go to private schools they argued that parents should be the ones to decide what is best for their children. Why does this same rationale for parental rights not apply here? Why do you want to strip me of my liberty and my freedom as a parent? What makes you think you are in a better position than I to make healthcare decisions for my child? You are not. You do not know my child. You did not hold my child when they were sick with pneumonia on their first birthday; you did not drive them to the hospital when they had appendicitis and needed surgery; you were not there to beg them to keep living and promise them that things would get better. My husband and I were, and we are in the best position to help make informed decisions about our childs health and wellbeing in consultation with their healthcare professionals who follow the peerreviewed science and evidencebased best practices that have been adopted around the globe. I want you to understand that the gender affirming surgery my child received was medically necessary potentially lifesaving care. Make no mistake: this legislation is an assault on parental rights and strips Iowa families of our liberty and freedom to make decisions about our childrens healthcare needs. You also need to know that you cause harm to vulnerable youth even by the very act of proposing this misguided legislation; it says to them they are not worthy; that who they are is not valid; that there is something wrong with them for the very way they experience who they are in the world. I firmly reject that notion and want our LGBTQ youth to know they are not alone, their feelings are valid, and they deserve to receive the healthcare they need, and I we will continue to fight for them. Please vote NO on SSB 1197.

Megan Jones []

I strongly oppose this bill. Gender supportive care has been proven to save lives and is considered best practice by the Center for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association. Please do not support this bill moving forward as it would make Iowa an unsafe place for LGBTQ youth, like my child, to live.

Tim Jones []

Please vote NO.As a parent of an LGBTQ child, I strongly oppose this bill.

Amy Kraber []

I am opposed to SSB 1197. It is common sense to me that we would not limit a parents right to take care of their child under the guidance of a physician and other care providers who are all following standards of care practices from medical organizations across the USA. Children will be harmed with the passage of this bill.

JJ Alberhasky []

Vote NO on this bill. This bill represents an overstepping of governing bodies into the private decisions of families. The right to decide courses of action regarding the health care of minors belongs to their parents and/or guardians.

Kristen Erickson []

I'm appalled that this is what Iowa has become in the 25 years since I moved here: a national example of intolerant hate and legislation designed to win political points at the literal expense of Iowans' lives. Who exactly benefits from this legislation? Not the transgender children who are in need of genderaffirming medical care. Those children have parents, medical professionals, social workers, psychologists, the respected medical community, and loving community members already working to protect them and give them the care that they need. Who are you as legislators to decide that those parents, those physicians, those therapists, that medical community know less than you about the right way to help these children? Here's who benefits from this legislation: politicians who want to align with a nationallevel club that scores political points by marginalizing and harming transgender people. Thats it. Some politicians get reelected or elevated to new positions, and in exchange we tell Iowa children that their true selves are worthless, and punish the parents and physicians who seek to show them that they are valued. Appalling.

Rick Smith []

In support and love for my granddaughter please do not pass this bill.

Shelly Adams []

I oppose this bill 100%!! How can you ignore the needs of children at all??? They are human beings and deserve recognition, acknowledgement and health care. If this bill is passed, you are effectively demoting them to slaves and reverting this state 200 years. People are paying attention and will vote accordingly.

Sophie Steffensmeier []

Vote NO. We put our trust and faith in doctors and specialists for a reason. Please, listen to the doctors and specialists who have devoted their lives to 'do no harm'. Restricting trans healthcare spits in the face of that. Please, stop pushing our trans youth further into depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. Every child deserves to have a thriving, happy existence. Taking away their healthcare is cruel and heartless. Vote NO!

Melinda Pradarelli []

I strongly oppose this bill. As an Iowa native, parent, and business owner, I oppose this legislation at every level. As others have stated, studies have clearly shown that genderaffirming practices improve life satisfaction and reduce suicidal and selfharm ideations. I urge you to vote NO.

Jonathan Danker []

This bill is harmful to the trans community and to Iowa. You are not Doctors or medical professionals. You are politicians, you are supposed to help people not hurt them. It could led to more depression among the teens.

Ellen Hallin []

I strongly oppose this bill. As an Iowa citizen, parent, and business owner, there are strong reasons to oppose this legislation at every level. As others have stated, studies have clearly shown that gender affirming practices improve life satisfaction and reduce suicidal and self harm ideations. As a business owner, this profoundly impacts our ability to recruit out of state talent. This kind of bill makes moving to Iowa to work really unappealing. People will suffer. Iowa economy will suffer. I urge you to vote NO.

Jonathan Sims []

I oppose this bill. There is already an established process in place that ensures young people are ready for the treatments they do receive. Irreversible gender surgeries are not performed on minors. This bill will increase discrimination against LGBTQ+ students and put their lives in danger.

Leslie Schwalm []

This proposed legislation is not about protecting children; it is about the discomfort of some adults with the authentic, true, lived experience of trans people. You have heard expert testimony from medical professionals, relating not only their experience with patients but also relating the expert opinion of our top national medical associations. You have heard from the parents of trans children. You have heard from trans adults. You have heard from trans children. The measures this bill proposes to prohibit are lifesaving measures. These are carefullycrafted affirming treatments and practices that allow children and adults to live their true, authentic lives. If some Iowans find that truth discomforting, why should they be allowed to put others in real danger? Ignorance must not be allowed to supercede medical facts in this matter.

Valerie Sailsbury []

Please vote no on this harmful anti trans bill. These teens deserve the same medical care as adults and doctors already have contingencies in place at every step and age group to ensure the care they want and need is appropriate for their age. Please vote no, do not deny the care they need to prevent major mental health issues in the future.

Linda Reichle Heinzel [Lives in Tama County]

Please vote no. These decisions can only be made by a persons medical care team and family. The Iowa Legislature has no right to dictate peoples lives in this matter. It is in direct conflict with the conservative ideal of small government.

Lacey Barton []

This is a joke bill and republicans and demarcates need to come together stop the hate!!

Lexi Dodds []

Please vote no on this bill. Trans youth, their parents/guardians and medical professionals should be the only ones who get a say in their healthcare. Gender affirming care is healthcare and it saves lives. Proper gender affirming care can reduce a patient's distress and lead to significant improvements in their overall wellbeing. Everyone deserves to reach their optimal health and feel good about who they are. I urge you to educate yourself on gender affirming care and listen to medical professionals and not politicians. These bills will also hurt our economy. No one will want to move to Iowa or bring businesses here. Please protect our youth, LGBTQ plus Iowans, and our state.

Amanda Tower []

As a lifelong Iowan and parent, I am beyond disappointed in the state representatives that support SSB 1197. Those in support of this bill have clearly not experienced the psychological and physical distress of being denied genderaffirming care, nor do they personally know anyone who has been denied the right to receive this care. During adolescence, gender dysphoria has a profound impact on a child's mental health. These are decisions that must be made by the patients themselves, their healthcare team, and their parents, NOT by legislators. Please vote NO on this harmful bill.

Michelle Miller []

Please vote NO on SSB 1197. I am a licensed pharmacist in Iowa and have practiced at UIHC for more than 10 years in the LGBTQ clinic. I have worked with both adolescent and adult LGBTQ patients. Unfortunately, this population has a risk of suicide almost 9 times higher than the nontransgender population. Often this is attributed to individuals being prevented from fully expressing their identified gender, including use of medications. Transgender affirming healthcare is only provided to youth with full consent of their parents/guardians. The process does not happen quickly and requires support from mental health professionals as well. Many medical organizations have guidelines for caring for transgender youth including AMA, AAP, APA and AAFP. The WPATH guidelines provide clear evidence based guidance on caring for adult, adolescent and pediatric transgender individuals. Providing this care has been shown to improve life satisfaction, decrease depression anxiety and suicidal ideation. Not allowing youth and their parents/guardians to pursue gender affirming care is not a neutral action. Thinking these individuals can just wait until they are 18 can be detrimental to their overall health and wellbeing. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine by Diane Chen PH.D. et al. demonstrates the psychosocial benefits of initiating hormone therapy in transgender youth. Please vote NO to SSB 1197.

Angela Farrell []

Please vote NO on this bill. As a boardcertified family medicine physician I wholeheartedly disagree with the overreaching, antiscience limitations this bill has on a physician's ability to work with parents and their children. This bill RESTRICTS PARENT's choice to evidencebased medicine. There are standards of care based on peerreviewed research used to guide treatment for transgender youth. in highly personal health care decisions for their children. Health care providers follow evidencebased standards of care to guide treatment for transgender youth. Guidelines are endorsed by every major US medical organization. The process to obtain genderaffirming care is methodical and lengthy, and requires parental consent. This bill will harm youth, harm parents ability to obtain safe care for their children, and harm medical provider's ability to treat patients.

Denise Perez []

I am vehemently opposed to this bill and ask the Iowa GOP to please stop these hateful bills. There is no basis in science or medicine that justifies this level of government overstep.

Dian Gottlob []

I am against this bill, which deprives these children of their rights to selfdetermine. It will result in both emotional and physical harm to those minors, and it removes the medical profession who are the experts from the overall assessment and process.

Riley Shepard []

If I had access to genderaffirming care when I was in high school, I wouldn't have damaged my ribs trying to bind my chest every day. Trans kids are depending on you to make the right choice stop trying to harm them with discriminatory garbage.

Sam Card []

This bill is disgusting and threatens the safety of many people I care about. If this bill is passed I envision I and many others will leave the state in waves resulting in the biggest worker shortage Iowa has yet seen.

Kristen Friedrichs []

Vote no on SSB 1197.

Kelly Dunne []

Leave trans kids alone. They are going through enough without your bigotry.

Lisa Levendusky []

This bill does nothing but demonize our youth, putting a target on their back. A person's sexuality is none of your business. Stop with the hate. Not only are you damaging our most vulnerable youth, you are forcing young people to leave Iowa, and making the entire state undesirable. Who wants to live in a hate filled state??

Joseph Kohm [Family Policy Alliance]

Re: Official Testimony Supporting S.S.B. 1197 Dear Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, My name is Joseph Kohm III. I am an attorney and the Public Policy Director for Family Policy Alliance. Family Policy Alliance advocates for policies that strengthen families and religious freedom in state capitols across the country, and federally. We host an alliance of 40 statebased family policy organizations, to achieve a vision of a nation where families thrive, life is cherished, and religious freedom flourishes. Thank you for the opportunity to share with you how S.S.B. 1197 will protect children from dangerous sex change procedures. First, S.S.B. 1197 helps children struggling to embrace their biological sex by protecting them from harmful drugs and surgery. A small but growing percentage of the American population experiences distress identifying with their biological sex,1 and for the small percentage of children who are gender nonconforming or experience distress identifying with their biological sex, studies consistently demonstrate that the majority come to embrace their biological sex in adolescence or adulthood, thereby rendering most medical physiological interventions unnecessary.2 However, in recent years, politicized medical organizations have pushed referring children for invasive, harmful forms of treatment that can include offlabel use of puberty blockers, administration of crosssex hormones far above naturally occurring levels, and even sometimes surgery. These organizations have adopted their "guidance" without longterm, peerreviewed studies.3 The pressure is so great that in many states, medical professionals are legally barred from offering helpful talk therapy to children for this issue.4 This functionally sends children struggling with their biological sex down a oneway path to transition by making it appear to be the only treatment option available. This is especially alarming given the fact that 80 to 95 percent of children will outgrow gender dysphoria and embrace their biological sex if these experimental treatments are not used,5 but 100% of children go on to transition if these harmful treatments are used.6 The use of pubertyblockers to treat gender dysphoria in children is experimental, with these drugs being used in an offlabel manner, and will create longterm damage, including:7 i.Sterilization: The combination of puberty blockers with crosssex hormones will result in sterilization. ii.Potential for decreased growth spurts: There is preliminary evidence that delaying puberty may decrease the pubertyrelated growth spurt and thus limit the height the person would have otherwise achieved. iii.Potentially increased risk for osteoporosis: The time in our lives when the greatest concentration of calcium is put into our bones is during adolescence. Halting the natural onset of puberty will stop that process and there is no evidence that the normal calcium deposition is regained once puberty is restarted.The use of crosssex hormones comes with serious known risks. For biological females, these risks may include:8 i.Irreversible infertility; ii.Severe liver dysfunction;iii.Coronary artery disease, including heart attacks;iv.Increased risk of breast, cervical, and uterine cancers;v.Cerebrovascular disease, including strokes;vi.Hypertension;vii.Erythrocytosis, which is an increase in red blood cells;viii.Sleep apnea; ix.Type 2 diabetes; x.Loss of bone density; andxi.Destabilization of psychiatric disorders.For biological males, these risks may include:9 xii.Irreversible infertilityxiii.Thromboembolic disease, including blood clots;xiv.Cholelithiasis, including gallstones;xv.Coronary artery disease, including heart attacks;xvi.Type 2 diabetes;xvii.Breast cancer;xviii.Macroprolactinoma, which is a tumor of the pituitary gland;xix.Cerebrovascular disease, including strokes; andxx.Hypertriglyceridemia, which is an elevated level of triglycerides in the blood; Additionally, sex change surgeries and their effects are irreversible. These gruesome procedures include, for boys, removing the subjects penis and fashioning a fake vagina out of it (penectomy and vulvoplasty); and, for girls, removing flesh from the forearm or thigh and fashioning a fake penis out of it (phalloplasty), or a double mastectomy, the removal of both healthy breasts. The effects of damaging children in this way before they even reach the age of majority include infertility, increased risk of infection, and a high risk of additional necessary surgeries, and many more.10 S.S.B. 1197 protects vulnerable children from such treatment by granting children a right of action to seek legal recourse against doctors who perform these procedures on them. When plaintiffs incur damages at the hands of others, the laws objective is to make them whole or as close to whole as possible. Sadly, most children who undergo gender transition procedures can never be made fully whole. For example, a 14yearold girl who undergoes a double mastectomy will never be able to nurse her future children or regain lost, fully healthy body parts. Thankfully, S.S.B. 1197 is victimcentric, granting these children a right to recover vast amounts of damages. No amount of money could ever restore what was taken from them, but this bill correctly aim to make them as whole as possible. Second, S.S.B. 1197 ensures vulnerable children struggling with gender dysphoria receive the help they need. It protects their access to therapy and other helpful treatments, such as antidepressant medication. It creates an environment that ensures any children with comorbidities, such as depression or anorexia receive proper treatment for those conditions, rather than enabling a singularlyfocused, oneway transition pipeline that would leave these comorbidities totally untreated. In 2014, a study found that 62.7% of patients diagnosed with gender dysphoria had at least one cooccurring disorder, and 33% were found to have major depressive disorders, which are linked to suicide ideation.11 Additionally, S.S.B. 1197 makes allowance for children who may already be taking crosssex hormones and puberty blockers by allowing them to take a healthy amount of time to wean off these dangerous drugs: the substantive provisions of the bill do not go into effect until six months after it is enacted.In conclusion, S.S.B. 1197 is critically needed legislation to protect Iowas children from dangerous and irreversible gender transition interventions. By passing this bill, Iowa will demonstrate its commitment to protecting vulnerable children and ensuring access to the healthcare they need. Therefore, we strongly urge you to vote Yes on this legislation.Sincerely, Joseph Kohm III, Esq.Director, Public Policy1 See, e.g., Gary J. Gates, Williams Distinguished Scholar, How Many People are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender? 1 THE WILLIAMS INSTITUTE (April 2011).2 Thomas D. Steensma, et al., Desisting and Persisting Gender Dysphoria After Childhood: A Qualitative FollowUp Study, 16 CLINICAL CHILD PSYCH. AND PSYCHIATRY (2010) 499516; Annelou L. C. de Vries and Peggy T. CohenKettenis, Clinical Management of Gender Dysphoria in Children and Adolescents: The Dutch Approach in Treating Transgender Children and Adolescents: An Interdisciplinary Discussion 1112, Jack Drescher and William Byne, eds., (2014).; See World Profl Assn for Trans. Health, Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People, v. 7 at 11, available at https://s3.amazonaws.com/amohubcontent/Association140/files/Standards%20of%20Care%20V7%20%202011%20WPATH%20(2)(1).pdf.3 Paul Dirks, Transition as Treatment: The Best Studies Show the Worst Outcomes, The Public Discourse (Feb. 16, 2020), https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2020/02/60143/.4 2017 Bill Tracking WA S.B. 5722; 2017 Bill Text HI S.B. 270.5 American College of Pediatricians, Gender Ideology Harms Children, Aug. 17, 2016, available at https://www.acpeds.org/thecollegespeaks/positionstatements/genderideologyharmschildren.6 Becky McCall, Lisa Nainggolan, Transition Therapy for Transgender Teens Drives Divide, WebMD Health News (Apr. 23, 2021), https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20210427/transitiontherapyfortransgenderteensdrivesdivide.7 American College of Pediatricians, Gender Ideology Harms Children, Aug. 17, 2016, available at https://www.acpeds.org/thecollegespeaks/positionstatements/genderideologyharmschildren.; E. Coleman, et. Al, Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8, 23 INTL JOURNAL OF TRANSGENDER HEALTH 51, 5213 (2022). 8 World Profl Assn for Transgender Health at 3740, 50, 97104 (includes a more comprehensive list of side effects and risks than what is included here).9 Id.10 Cecilia Dhejne, et. al, LongTerm FollowUp of Transsexual Persons Undergoing Sex Reassignment Surgery: Cohort Study in Sweden, 4 SEX MED. 5758, 6264.11 Azadeh Mazaheri Meybodi, et. Al, Psychiatric Axis I Comorbidities among Patients with Gender Dysphoria, PSYCHIATRY JOURNAL 15.