Arkansas Governor Vetoes Good Bill That Would Protect Children From Gender-Reassignment Procedures

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 5, 2021

Little Rock, Ark. – On Monday Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson vetoed H.B. 1570, the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act.

Family Council President Jerry Cox issued a statement saying, “The Arkansas Legislature needs to step up and override the governor’s veto to make sure this good bill becomes law. Gender-reassignment surgeries can leave children sterilized and scarred for life. Medical researchers do not know the long term effects these procedures can have on kids. That is why many people equate them with experimenting on children. Arkansas must protect its children from these sex-reassignment procedures.”

Cox pointed out that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not authorized puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to be used for gender-reassignment. “The FDA has never approved puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for the purpose of gender transition. Doctors are giving children these drugs off-label. They are having children use these drugs in a way that the FDA never intended. That’s unethical, and it endangers the children of Arkansas. H.B. 1570 would stop this dangerous practice in Arkansas.”

Cox called on Arkansas’ lawmakers to override the governor’s veto and enact the SAFE Act. “Arkansas has good lawmakers who strongly support this good bill. We hope Arkansas’ legislators will do the right thing and override the governor’s veto on H.B. 1570. This is a good bill that will protect children. It needs to become law.”

Family Council is a conservative education and research organization based in Little Rock.

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