The Arkansas state governor has used his veto to block legislation that would make his state the first in the US to ban treatments or surgeries for young transgender people.
Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, vetoed the wishes of his party members. Last week, they piloted the law through the state parliament by a large majority.
‘Too broad and extreme’
But according to Hutchinson, the law sets a “new standard” when it comes to meddling in the authority of doctors and parents “dealing with one of the most complex and sensitive issues of young people.”
The law would no longer allow doctors to operate or treat transgender people under the age of 18 with, for example, hormones and puberty inhibitors. Hutchinson thinks the law is “too broad and extreme”. He described the proposal as a “product of the US culture war” and called for more tolerance.
Arkansas Republicans, who have held the state since 2012, can override Hutchinson’s veto by majority. Hutchinson said in a press conference that he considered that scenario, “but I hope that through my action, Conservative Republicans will rethink the issue and come up with a different, more subdued approach.”
Surprise
Hutchinson’s decision not to sign the bill comes as a surprise. Last month, he agreed to a ban on transgender women from playing sports with other women in schools and universities.
The governor explained that he had reached his decision after discussions with transgender people and medics. They told him that the law would be very harmful to a community that is more often than average with suicide and depression.
Prominent transgender rights advocate Chase Strangio, who after passing the law in parliament called Hutchinson e-mail and call, hailed the governor’s decision on Twitter. He acknowledges that the law is likely to be enacted anyway. “But this is a powerful punishment of a nightmare law,” he writes.
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