“It is unusual for us to give a potentially life-changing treatment to young people and not know what happens to them in adulthood, and that has been a particular problem that we haven’t had the follow-up into adulthood to know what the results of this are.”
—Dr. Hilary Cass, Cass Review
When House Bill 1170 was initially introduced in the 2023 Georgia General Assembly session, it focused on opioid overdose prevention in government buildings. However, the Senate modified the bill to include a ban on puberty blockers. The bill became a contentious bellwether, passing by a vote of 32-19 but ultimately failing to become law by the session’s end. Sponsored by Sens. Ben Watson (a Savannah physician) and Kay Kirkpatrick along with Reps. Lee Hawkins, Karen Mathiak, Houston Gaines and Matthew Gambill, the bill opposes gender-related medical treatments in Georgia.
This debate, of course, underscores the complexity and divisiveness of the issue.
The continued focus on transgender rights by progressives echoes nationwide campaigns, including efforts to expunge the criminal records of transgender sex workers. For example, California’s SB 357 decriminalizes loitering with the intent to engage in prostitution, which proponents say alleviates unfair prosecution against transgender sex workers. Such moves can obscure dangerous crimes and infringe on the rights of innocent people. However, critics argue that this move facilitates underage sex trafficking. This is just one of many instances where progressive compassion falls short of its intended mark.
In America, we face a disconnect in advocacy and activism. The surge in leftist politics—largely fueled by anger over Trump’s 2016 victory— has emboldened radicals and professional advocates whose opinions often defy logic. The “woke” movement and its attributes should be seen as a form of religious fervor. As Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard said, “What looks like politics, and imagines itself to be political, will one day unmask itself as a religious movement.” In time, we will see this progressive uprising for what it truly is: a movement in a society deeply lost in secularity, far removed from the true meaning of life and liberty. Now, they are targeting the youth.
I spend a lot of time in London and have been thoroughly impressed by the United Kingdom’s approach to youth gender surgery. Such treatment is now heavily regulated. Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) requires a thorough psychological evaluation and a minimum of 12 months of living in the identified gender before considering medical interventions. At times, puberty blockers may be prescribed to delay physical changes, but hormone therapy and surgeries are typically reserved for those over 18. Due to this pragmatic logic in Britain, those who promote under-18 gender-affirming procedures have been silenced. We need the same approach in Georgia.
The fervor of American activists supporting untested treatments also presents an issue highly intertwined with commercial interests and driven by misinformation and politicization. The market for sex reassignment surgery alone is projected to reach $6 billion by 2030. Medical corporations and clinics are expanding their offerings to capture market share. Business executives are preparing strategies to bolster the bottom line and collect their bonuses. The rush to offer medical services, without supporting research for such treatments, is disgraceful.
A recent study from Boston involving 56 U.S. healthcare organizations concluded that individuals who underwent gender-affirming surgery had a 12-fold higher suicide attempt risk than those who did not. See “Risk of Suicide and Self-Harm Following Gender-Affirmation Surgery”
I can only imagine such numbers are even higher for those under the age of 18.
Adults who are transgender have the freedom to make their own choices. Targeting gender-curious youth is a completely different matter. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has put forth guidelines advising pediatricians to emphasize supportive care that validates and respects gender identities. This approach centers on attentive listening and maintaining a nonjudgmental attitude, advising against prescribing medical treatments such as hormones or surgery, and recommending them only when appropriate.
HB 1170 follows best practices by placing restrictions on administering puberty blockers to minors. It requires parental consent for medical treatments related to gender transition and comprehensive medical evaluations by healthcare professionals. It also mandates that minors and their parents receive detailed information about the long-term effects, benefits, and risks associated with puberty blockers.
As 2025 approaches, our politicians need to understand that House Bill 1170 must be prioritized. Georgia is one of the most influential states in America. Metro Atlanta is the eighth largest metropolitan economy in the U.S. and one of the largest economic centers in the world. It is the eighth wealthiest state in the nation in terms of GDP. Georgia should not endorse misguided medical advocacy or use children as guinea pigs.
This issue transcends “culture wars.” Anyone who disagrees is misguided. The actions in Georgia have ramifications for the entire country, and decisions made by our leadership will be recognized throughout the entire world.
Chadwick Hagen is an Atlanta-based financier, philanthropist and author. His articles have appeared in The Epoch Times, The European Conservative, Fox News, Zero Hedge and many others.
