- A newly passed Alabama bill would force teachers and other school staff to out transgender minors to their parents.
- The bill also makes it a felony for doctors to provice care to minors that would assist in their gender transition.
- The legislation would need to be signed by GOP Gov. Kay Ivey before becoming law.
Alabama lawmakers passed a bill Thursday that would force teachers and counselors in the state to out any transgender students to their parents.
The Alabama House passed the legislation that also criminalizes medical treatments that help transgender minors transition by a 66-28 vote.
The Alabama Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act would make it a felony for doctors to prescribe puberty blockers or hormones to minors who identify as transgender. Doctors are also prohibited from performing surgeries that help minors transition.
The bill would also require elementary school staff to out students who may be transgender to their parents.
The legislation has been debated for three years and had already passed in the Senate ahead of today's House vote, Al.com reported.
A second bill, which passed in the state Senate Thursday, prohibits any instruction on sexual orientation or gender in elementary school classrooms, similar to the recently passed "Don't Say Gay" bill in Florida, Alabama.com reported.
The original version of the bill, first introduced by Rep. Scott Stadthagen, required students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match the gender listed on their birth certificates rather than that match their gender identities, the Montgomery Adviser reported.
During the debate over the bill on Thursday, Sen. Shay Shelnutt introduced the new amendment, according to the Montgomery Adviser.
"We just don't think it's appropriate to be talking about homosexuality and gender identity," Shelnutt said. "You know, they should be talking about math, science [and] writing, especially in elementary school."
The bill will go back to the House before being passed. It passed in the Senate 26-5, Al.com reported.
The US Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services have told states they plan to ensure transgender care for minors.
Alabama's legislation is the latest in a string of anti-trans bills pushed by Republican state politicians that prohibit medical care for trans youth and limit discussion and education about gender identity.
Florida's new law — which was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis last month — limits how teachers can teach students about sexual orientation and gender identity.