Governor Stitt Signs Bill Outlawing Gender-Affirming Care at OU Children’s Hospital
News 9 - October 4, 2022 3:04 pm
OKLAHOMA CITY –
Governor Kevin Stitt put pen to paper Tuesday on a bill that, in part, bans gender-affirming health care at OU Children’s Hospital.
The bill, known as Senate Bill 3XX, “blocks funding to prevent gender transition services for minors” at the hospital located in Oklahoma City, the governor’s office said.
The piece of legislation was originally known as House Bill 1007 and was penned by state Sen. Roger Thompson. HB1007 was later tacked on to Senate Bill 3 earlier this year.
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Medical students from OU protested the bill at the state capitol last Thursday during the legislature’s special session.
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State Senators OK’d the bill, sending it to Governor Stitt’s desk. His signature means SB 3XX goes into effect immediately.
OU Children’s Hospital said it would end some gender-affirming health care procedures, but Stitt said the hospital’s vow is not enough.
According to a statement, Stitt is calling on state lawmakers to work on legislation that would ban gender-affirming health care to all minors statewide during next February’s normal session.