By Paul Bean
In an address on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday, Vermont’s Representative Becca Balint voiced her frustration with what she perceives as ongoing Republican efforts to dehumanize transgender youth and interfere with their healthcare decisions.
The speech has since garnered significant attention on X and other social media.
“I’m so sick and tired of Republicans dehumanizing trans kids, demonizing their parents, and controlling what’s happening in your doctor’s appointments,” said Balint. “All we want is kids to be able to get the health care that their parent deems necessary to keep them alive.”
Last week, Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark joined a coalition of 19 states and the District of Columbia in filing an amicus brief in support of Michigan’s ban on conversion therapy for minors, her office announced Tuesday June 3.
The legal brief, submitted this week to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, defends Michigan’s 2023 law prohibiting licensed health professionals from attempting to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
In her speech, Balint argued that such policies marginalize a vulnerable population and undermine the autonomy of parents and medical professionals in making healthcare decisions.
“There are transgender people living in every single district here and they identify as Republican, and identified as Democratic,” she continued, emphasizing the bipartisan presence of transgender individuals. “Some of them don’t vote at all because they can’t stand their government being weaponized against them.”
The representative’s speech also touched on broader healthcare issues, questioning why they were focusing on transgender healthcare amidst other healthcare related issues in the U.S. including the price of prescription drugs. “I do not know why with all of the issues we have in healthcare right now… we are rolling back all work done on inhalers and PBMs. Healthcare systems across this country are falling apart,” she said.
Balint’s stance aligns with her previous legislative efforts, including the introduction of the Transgender Health Care Access Act, aimed at ensuring that transgender individuals have access to necessary medical care without discrimination.
Her speech has sparked criticism from conservative voices who argue against what they term as “unnecessary medical interventions” for minors.
“She is sick. My kid got screwed by Vermonts gender ideology being pushed in schools. let children be adults before making life changing decisions,” wrote one X user in reply to the video.
“You’re vile. No child is trans. The fact that you support chemically and physically mutilating children and creating a life-long pharmaceutical patient is abhorrent. What you are advocating for is NOT healthcare,” writes user @Deigratia64.
”Do you know why the UK banned puberty blockers?,” wrote user Wesley Yang. “Do you know why the Labour Government in the UK retained the ban on puberty blockers?”
“@RepBeccaB. I am a @pittparents and @DesisterParents mom of a desisted son,” wrote Gwen Ellis, who goes on to explain the dangers of transitioning children and the history of transgender ideology. Below is a small part of it, but click here to read their whole reply. “Our groups are collectively nonpartisan and secular. Your party is losing votes. Many Democratic parents feel politically homeless. Additionally, the healthcare industry will lose billions of dollars in the near future due to the costs of treating medically harmed children and young people…”