The Center for Nonviolence is devastated by the loss of gender-affirming healthcare for minors in Indiana. The recent signing of Senate Bill 480 by Governor Holcomb on Wednesday (4/5/2023) has effectively taken away the lifeline of hope for young individuals struggling to align their bodies with their gender identity. This law, which prohibits physicians or practitioners from providing gender transition procedures to minors, has struck a crippling blow to the transgender communities in Indiana. The law goes further to prohibit practitioners from referring minors to other practitioners for these life-changing procedures. This means that young individuals who are receiving hormone therapy or puberty blockers, now find themselves stranded without any access to this vital medical care. 

With this law, the Indiana Attorney General has been given the authority to investigate and take action against those who violate this law, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. Teachers, healthcare providers, and others may be compelled to report minors seeking gender-affirming healthcare, further compounding the sense of isolation and desperation that these individuals are experiencing. Despite the overwhelming medical evidence and research supporting the effectiveness of gender-affirming healthcare, Indiana legislators have chosen to ignore the individual rights of their constituents and instead impose their own beliefs on already vulnerable members of society. This is a grave injustice that will have devastating consequences for years to come.

Access to gender-affirming healthcare is a matter of life and death for many transgender individuals, who are more likely to experience bullying, harassment, and discrimination than their cisgender peers. The statistics are staggering, with 59% of transgender boys/men and 48% of transgender girls/women considering suicide in 2022, according to The Trevor Project. The denial of this medical care violates their fundamental human rights and represents a form of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ communities and their families. 

It is deeply troubling that in Indiana and several other states across our country, the decision of a parent, child, and doctor to pursue gender-affirming healthcare is not afforded basic HUMAN protections. 

The Center for Nonviolence is committed to supporting and advocating for the rights of all individuals, regardless of their age, gender, or sexuality. We believe that all individuals have the right to make their own decisions about their bodies and their lives, without fear of discrimination or persecution. We will continue to fight for the rights of transgender individuals and their families.

Working with local leaders and community activists we are making Indiana a safer and more welcoming place for everyone. We offer support groups for LGBTQ+ teens in Fort Wayne. We encourage anyone interested in joining the group or the conversations to contact us for more information.