The Alaska State Medical Board issued a statement opposing gender affirming care for transgender youth in Alaska encouraged the legislature to take actions to limit medically necessary and essential healthcare for young Alaskans.
The State Medical Board is composed of members appointed by the governor.
“By statute, the Alaska State Medical Board has a responsibility to regulate laws that govern the practice of medicine in our state. The Board’s statement opposing gender affirming care exceeds its authority and threatens essential healthcare for transgender youth,” said Mara Kimmel, Executive Director for the ACLU of Alaska. “It is a political statement created outside of proper process and is not rooted in science or public health protocols, nor is it justified in law.”
The Board sent the statement to members of the Alaska Legislature and urged legislative limits to gender affirming care. Last year, legislative efforts to undermine medical care for transgender Alaskans were overwhelmingly opposed by Alaskans in committee hearings, and failed to advance.
“Alaskans consistently reject efforts by politicians to violate our rights to privacy. We know that when the government gets between us and our doctors, it causes real harm to our personal health and threatens our constitutional rights,” said Kimmel.