Following the vote taken on an anti-trans bill in Congress earlier today and in anticipation of another tomorrow, Fair Wisconsin’s Executive Director Abigail Swetz released the following statement:
“I am appalled but not surprised to see the breakdowns of today’s vote. I’m appalled because of what a ‘yes’ vote on this bill represents. A ‘yes’ vote on HR3492 represents government interference in families and medicine by criminalizing parents and doctors for providing access to medically-necessary health care to trans youth; six Wisconsin Republican Congresspeople voted yes to sending parents and doctors to prison. Representative Grothman (WI-06) went even further by proposing an amendment to broaden the impact of this already-extreme bill to criminalize the parents and doctors of trans people seeking medically-necessary health care all the way to age 21; thankfully, that amendment never reached the floor. Considering the anti-trans rhetoric we’ve heard from the Republican party for years now, it is not surprising to see this vote breakdown, although it is still disappointing to see politicians attacking the health and well-being of our kids. It does not have to be this way.
Both Wisconsin Democratic members of Congress voted ‘no’ on this bill, and I applaud Representatives Pocan (WI-02) and Moore (WI-04) for their support of trans kids and their families, and of the health care these young people need and the doctors who provide it. Beyond this very important ‘no’ vote, Rep. Pocan and Rep. Moore are fighting to cut costs for Wisconsinites, protect free speech, and make sure that health care of all types is available and affordable for everyone. They are focused on fixing problems, not hunting down parents and doctors to prosecute them for making nuanced medical decisions with their children and patients or messing even more with Medicare and Medicaid. Thank you, Reps Pocan and Moore.
Tomorrow, the House of Representatives is poised to vote on yet another anti-trans bill. HR498 would again amount to government interference in medical decisions, this time by eliminating Medicaid coverage of medically-necessary health care for trans youth. I call on every Wisconsin representative to vote ‘no’ on this bill.
Anti-trans bills like these have a heavy cost even if they never become law. The reality is that trans kids and their families across Wisconsin and across our nation are watching these votes and listening to what we say, and while I fervently wish there were more ‘no’ votes, I am thankful that they can see Reps Pocan and Moore cast their votes in opposition to HR3492, and I am proud to add my voice to theirs in support of Wisconsin’s trans youth and all who love and support them. We are so grateful you are here.”
