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# Arkansas enacts trans healthcare ban
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/arkansas-enacts-trans-healthcare-ban/
- Published: 2021-04-08T13:14:10.000Z
- Updated: 2021-04-08T09:43:24.000Z
- Description: Arkansas has enacted a law to prevent young trans people from accessing gender-affirming healthcare.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: Health, News, Politics, Alabama, Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Human Rights Campaign, LGBTQ, Mississippi, Trans healthcare, Transgender, US

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/healthcare-human-rights-600-400.jpg)

**Arkansas** has become the first **US** state to enact a law which prohibits medical professionals from providing gender-affirming healthcare to young trans people. According to *[The News & Observer](https://www.newsobserver.com/news/article250478036.html?ref=scenemag.co.uk),* governor **Asa Hutchinson** rejected the bill, arguing it interfered with the rights of a parent to consent to their child’s medical treatment.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/asa-hutchinson-1.jpg)

State governor Asa Hutchinson

However, the Republican controlled House and Senate voted to override Hutchinson’s decision, making the bill official law. Medical professionals and LGBTQ+ activists have condemned the new regulations, with **Doctor Robert Garofalo**, from the **Lurie Children’s Hospital** in **Chicago**, saying: *“This legislation perpetuates the very things we know are harmful to trans youth…They’re not just anti-trans. They’re anti-science. They’re anti-public health.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/trans-healthcare-now-1.jpg)

The **Human Rights Campaign** has vowed to challenge the bill, with president **Alphonso David** [tweeting](https://twitter.com/AlphonsoDavid/status/1379521943200743428?ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“This fight is not over. We will utilize every available tool to fight for the rights & futures of trans and non-binary youth and their families.”* A handful of other states are currently considering laws to limit young trans people’s access to appropriate healthcare. **Alabama** introduced such a bill in [February](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/alabama-introduces-bill-against-trans-healthcare/), while **[Mississippi](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/mississippi-bill-could-ban-trans-youth-healthcare/)** is also debating similar regulations, after becoming the first state to ban trans athletes from competing in school sports this year.