Yesterday, as expected, Governor Tate Reeves (R) signed House Bill 1125, or the Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (REAP) Act, into law, protecting minors from being the guinea pigs of the transgender movement.
Speaking at the bill signing in Jackson, Gov. Reeves said it comes down to two positions.
"One tells children that they're beautiful the way they are, that they can find happiness in their own bodies. The other tells them that they should take drugs and cut themselves up with expensive surgeries in order to find freedom from depression. I know which side I'm on," he declared. "No child in Mississippi will have these drugs or surgeries pushed upon them."
He also acknowledged that most members of the medical community have become wise to the harms of subjecting young people to surgical and hormonal mutilation.
"Healthcare is about healing, not hurting," he said. "The principle of do no harm should never be forgotten, and that's why I'm thankful for the many parents and medical professionals who are loudly speaking out on this issue."
The Daily Wire's Matt Walsh, creator of "What Is a Woman?" – a documentary about gender and transgender issues – was present for the signing and was "grateful for the chance to say a few words."
"The people who support and advocate for this butchery are not petitioning to lower the drinking age," he pointed out. "You don't hear them calling for laws to make sure that kids have access to tobacco or firearms. They aren't marching in the streets demanding that 13-year-olds should be able to get tattoos or open credit card accounts or take out mortgages."
Because children are not mature enough to make such decisions, they are legally prohibited from doing so. So Walsh reasons that minors should likewise not be allowed to irreversibly mutilate their bodies in a futile attempt to become the opposite gender.
The law goes into effect immediately. And while many are unhappy with Gov. Reeves for signing it, the world's largest legal defender of "your most cherished liberties" says he did the right thing.
Matt Sharp of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) explains that the legislation bans any person from knowingly providing gender transition procedures to a person under 18. It also prevents public funds or tax deductions for prohibited gender transition procedures, places enforcement procedures on the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure, and it stops Medicaid from covering gender transition for persons under 18.
Other states are in court over following the science and passing similar laws, and early last month, supporters of "trans youth" held a rally at the Mississippi State Capitol to say the bill is "dangerous" and discriminatory and prevents children from being their true selves. But Sharp says his firm is grateful that Mississippi's leaders are "taking this strong stand for truth" and for the protection of children.
"Denying the truth that we are either male or female hurts real people, especially vulnerable children," he asserts. " Mississippi is right to stop the injection of political agendas into the healthcare system by ensuring that children are protected from life-altering, experimental procedures and drugs."
ADF is helping defend a similar law in Alabama.
