I am a conservative resident of CT. I believe in the sanctity of all life. With that said, I propose a bill be introduced to the CT General Assembly allowing children legal emancipation from their parents if they believe they are not receiving adequate medical care for a perceived or diagnosed condition. I'm certain you have heard of the case of Leelah Alcorn, a transgender Ohio teen who took her own life due to her parents not supporting her transition to becoming male-to-female. This is a genuine tragedy that could have been prevented. In addition countless other stories where children are faced with life-threatening prognoses if they do not receive the appropriate care. Parents should not have the right to deny, delay, or impede medical treatment based on moral or religious objections. Transgender children are on a very limited timeline to delay puberty in favor of transition. Puberty can be delayed with medication safely until such age that they may decide with certainty whether physical transition is right for them. Reversing opposite gender puberty is a lengthy and painful process that can leave lasting physical scars and mental anguish. The Bill in honor of Leelah Alcorn should include the following provisions: -The ability for children age 10 and over to petition their own adoption to a family willing to care for their needs -The ability to compel insured parents of the above children to seek, attend, and follow through with medical and mental health treatment of a secular nature -put parents at risk of losing custody they do not comply with the above -make it a criminal offense to willfully obstruct the medical care of another individual -the ability of children to seek protection against retaliation (shelter, safe haven) -the ability to gain coverage under Medicaid if parents are uninsured, or underinsured -the ability to compel parents to pay for legal counsel for the child (if they are deemed able and refuse to aid the child in seeking treatment) -access to pro bono legal counsel of parents are unable to contribute to representation -if all other options are exhausted, allow the child to designate themselves a ward of the state The point of this bill would not be to undermine the authority of parents, or overburden our state's already strained social services, but to allow at-risk children access to the life-saving care they deserve. Please do not allow the death of Leelah Alcorn to have been in vain. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness should not depend solely upon one's family.