By Guy Page
Rep. Peter Welch has co-sponsored the “Trans Bill of Rights,” a resolution introduced June 28 into the U.S. House of Representatives.
The bill, whose lead sponsor is Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington), would add transgender and non-binary Americans to the list of groups of people protected by existing civil rights legislation. It also would appear to expand access to transgender treatments for youth.
The resolution calls for “eliminating unnecessary governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, gender-affirming medical care and counseling for transgender and nonbinary adults, adolescents, and children.”
The resolution does not itemize the “unnecessary governmental restrictions.” A Vermont bill with similar language, however, would eliminate the need for parental consent for children seeking puberty blockers and hormone therapy.
“Trans folks deserve to live happy, healthy, and safe lives. They deserve to be protected and supported, not attacked,” Welch tweeted Tuesday, June 28. “That’s why I’ve joined @RepJayapal to introduce a Trans Bill of Rights and provide essential protections for trans folks across the country.”