Last week, the Arkansas Legislature overrode a veto from Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR) on legislation that prohibited a minor from being issued transgender drugs and gender transition surgeries.
Similar legislation is before the Alabama Legislature, which is sponsored by State Rep. Wes Allen (R-Troy) and State Sen. Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville).
During an appearance on Mobile radio’s FM Talk 106.5 on Monday, Allen acknowledged the similarities in the two bills and that he and his colleagues were aware of what was going on in Little Rock.
“We’ve been watching very closely what happened in Arkansas,” he said. “They had a very similar proposal that outlaws, prohibits the administration or issuance of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and outlaws transitioning surgery for minors. So, we watched that go on, and, of course, the Governor out there vetoed that. But the legislature overrode that veto and it’s now law in Arkansas. And I want to congratulate our counterparts out there for doing that to protect children. And our HB1 and SB1 — Senator Shelnutt has the companion bill in the Senate, and our bill does very similar.”
“For anyone that is a minor, these medications, which are powerful medications that seek to arrest natural puberty — you know, we’ve all been through that,” Allen continued. “And so, puberty is not a disease. We want to outlaw and make sure those medications are not available to minors because they’re just not mature enough to make those decisions on their own. And we want to make sure we protect them, and want to make sure we protect their bodies.”
Some have suggested Hutchinson and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), whose state legislature also passed a similar bill, were pressured by outside entities to prevent those respective bills from becoming law. However, Allen said he has gotten pushback from individuals.
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.
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