Chamber: Bill against treatment for transgender youth threatens economic development

The South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced Friday that it will oppose a bill that makes it a felony for doctors to provide gender confirmation surgeries and services to minors.

The bill, House Bill 1057, creates an impression that families with transgender youth will be persecuted in South Dakota rather than protected, according to the chamber’s announcement. The bill invites adverse economic consequences for the state because of that perception.

“South Dakota is home to a growing number of national and international businesses, including banks, research firms, manufacturers and health care systems, that believe workplaces and communities need to be inclusive and use the talents of everyone,” said David Owen, the chamber’s president. “When South Dakota considers draconian rules that affect a limited number of people, we run the risk of triggering economic consequences that include the loss of conventions, tournaments, top-level entertainment and business investment from outside industries.”

More:S.D. bill would punish doctors who perform gender confirmation surgeries on children

The release said that sponsors of the bill “seem sincere in wanting to offer protection to young people,” but the limited number of instances it would regulate do not warrant the use of state government power to regulate personal issues.

The bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Fred Deutsch, a Watertown Republican, said he is trying to protect young people.

The legislation would ban medical professionals from providing sex gender confirmation surgeries or prescribing hormones to minors that are used for gender transition.