Point of Pride Condemns Alabama’s Felony Ban on Lifesaving Care for Trans Youth

April 18, 2022

Alabama has become the first state in the nation to make it a felony for healthcare professionals to provide gender-affirming treatments to transgender youth. On April 8, 2022, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed Senate Bill 184 (SB 184) into law, criminalizing medical care that is vital to the well-being of trans youth under the age of 19.

“It feels truly dystopian to process this: lifesaving care is now a felony in Alabama,” said Chris Mosier, Point of Pride Board member. “Doctors could be sent to jail simply for doing their job—for saving lives. This gender-affirming care is considered best practice medicine and is supported by every major medical association in the country. It is safe, age-appropriate, and helps improve the lives and mental health of those who access it.”

SB 184 targets essential treatments, such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries. Alabama now joins states like Arkansas, Tennessee, and Arizona, which have previously passed similar anti-trans healthcare bans. However, Alabama’s law is the first to include criminal penalties, with healthcare providers facing up to 10 years in prison for offering care to trans minors.

“This is exactly why I joined the board of Point of Pride,” Mosier added. “To help provide lifesaving support for trans youth. The attacks on transgender youth have been relentless, and this moment only reinforces our commitment to ensuring that our community has access to the care they need to survive and thrive.”

Since its inception in 2016, Point of Pride has been dedicated to providing critical, lifesaving services to transgender individuals through programs like the Annual Trans Surgery Fund, HRT Access Fund, Electrolysis Support Fund, and the Free Chest Binders and Femme Shapewear programs. With nearly 30 healthcare bans introduced across the country this year alone, these programs are more important than ever.

“Alabama's new law, which takes effect on May 8, has already been challenged in court,” Mosier explained. “But the reality is that trans people in states with healthcare bans are at risk of losing the care they need and deserve. We cannot let this happen.”

Point of Pride remains steadfast in its mission to support the most vulnerable members of the transgender community and calls on supporters and allies to continue the fight for access to lifesaving care.