Improving Youth Health Outcomes
I was thrilled that the Assembly passed Assembly Bill 104 this week. This bill, appropriately named the Help Not Harm Act, prohibits gender transition medical intervention for those under the age of 18.
The fact is, the radical gender ideology that has permeated society of late is incorrect and should be rejected. This reality does not come from a position of bigotry, as the accusations will suggest, but instead from a position of compassion, as it remains true that legitimate studies display many disturbing facts about this trend.
Adequately conducted studies, not half-baked, politicized, and knowingly dishonest publications, display time and again that these interventions are directly correlated with increases in mental health issues, including suicide or ideation thereof.
On top of that, the affected individuals overwhelmingly and disproportionately have underlying diagnoses before gender dysphoria, including autism and mental health disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression. These individuals deserve proper treatment, rather than affirmation to undergo medical interventions that have lifelong consequences-particularly when considering that brains do not fully mature until the mid-20s. The vast majority of youth diagnosed with gender dysphoria have such feelings terminate as they enter adulthood, leading them to far better health outcomes than those who receive long-lasting medical intervention.
Many European countries have realized this reality with their respective laws, and the majority of Wisconsinites support and recognize it as well. Despite the semantics and accusations, the actual policy of this legislation is based on compassion and facts. I hope to see it signed into law this session.
Early Voting Begins
Early voting in Wisconsin for the April 1st election has begun!
There are two statewide offices on the ballot: Justice of the State Supreme Court, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Importantly, your ballot will also include a statewide referendum for a constitutional amendment.
If passed, the amendment will enshrine the state’s current voter photo ID requirement into the constitution. This would maintain the requirement that Wisconsin voters present a valid photo ID to vote in any election, subject to exceptions, and prevent a state court from overturning the requirement. Passage of this amendment would mean that our current law would become a written section of the State Constitution.
You can still register to vote in person at your Municipal Clerk’s Office until 5:00 pm on March 28th, or at your polling location on Election Day. Find your polling location, clerk’s office, and a sample ballot here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/.
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Contact Me
My office is always available to help with any state-related questions or concerns you may have. You can reach my office at (608) 237-9104, or email me at [email protected].
