By Rus Egner
Christian Action League
April 22, 2021
News this week that the Youth Health Protection Act, Senate Bill 514, will not be taken up in the state Senate this session is discouraging, but does not diminish the good intent of those filing the measure, says the Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League.
Filed by Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell), SB 514 would bar doctors from performing sterilization procedures on people younger than 21 who are seeking to change their gender. It would also ban puberty-blocking hormone therapies for kids and teens and ensure that parents would be informed so they could withhold their consent for such treatments. Further, it would have ensured that state funds are not used for gender transition procedures.
Although the bill was supported by many Republicans, GOP Senate leaders told the media they did not “see a pathway” for it to become law.
“Unfortunately, elections have consequences. On critical issues of this nature, the Governor armed with his veto pen, will immediately strike such bills down when they arrive on his desk,” Creech said. “But God bless those courageous lawmakers who filed these bills anyway.”
He said the bill’s sponsors are truly good people who are taking heat from friend and foe alike because so many lawmakers are skittish about the state going through another HB 2.
“It’s not just the Governor that’s the issue here. If I said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, there was nothing wrong with HB 2. The only thing negative about it was there wasn’t enough moral conviction and stamina to fight until victory was achieved,” Creech said.
“Therefore, the assault on gender, children, and truth marches onward. Fear and the state’s champion for absurdity, Gov. Cooper, rules the day.”
Creech also said the news about SB 514 does not bode well for the fate for another bill, HB 358, the Save Women’s Sports Act.
That legislation, which has been heard in the Judiciary 1 Committee, would prevent biological males from playing on female teams at the middle school, high school and college levels.