If this act is passed, transgender children will die.

Recently, the Alabama Senate voted 22 to 3 in favor of the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act. This act aims to block gender-affirming healthcare to transgender minors, by making it a Class C felony for doctors to prescribe hormones or hormone blockers to anyone under the age of 19.

Already, transgender children in Alabama face a lot of hatred and discrimination. As a young trans person from Birmingham, I was terrified to come out until I was in a school that I knew was more accepting. I was unable to receive hormones until I was seventeen, despite having been out for at least three years. Being forced to go through puberty, being forced to watch changes you do not want happening to a body you already feel out of control of, is devastating. Almost half of all transgender people have attempted suicide at some point in their lives, and there is no doubt in my mind that this act will contribute to this rate. 

This is not something that will just blow over or be forgotten. This is not nothing, If this bill is passed, there is no doubt in my mind that we will lose so many precious young lives that we should not have to. These kids should never have to face anything like this. Yes, these are vulnerable children, but this act is only going to cause them harm.