PHOENIX — A new bill intended to help transgender people in Arizona is being eyed with skepticism.
Senate Bill 1511 introduced Thursday by Sen. Janae Shamp, a Republican representing the 29th district, would require health insurers who cover gender transition procedures to also cover detransition procedures.
“So, this is our first step in addressing the issue that there needs to be a focus on in this population,” Shamp said at a news conference at the state Capitol.
The population she referred to are those who underwent transition procedures and decided to detransition, returning to their assigned gender of birth.
On the surface, the bill seems like an olive branch to the trans community – but one trans advocate said that’s not the case.
“It's kind of like a wolf in sheep's clothing,” said Christiana Hammond of Arizona Trans Youth and Parent Organization.
Hammond said SB1511 attempts to trivialize the gender transition process.
“Well, it's something you see the right-wing PACs and different groups like think tanks, get together with this angle to delegitimize the idea of trans people being a legitimate part of that society,” Hammond said.
“Detransitioning and care provided for detransitioning is very much a part of gender-affirming care,” explained Bridget Sharpe, the state director of the Human Rights Campaign. “Detransition is a thing that happens, but it's very rare.”
Shamp cites her background as a Registered Nurse as the catalyst for her desire to see trans people have the option to detransition.
“We can’t not take care of patients,” Shamp said. “This is health care. These are individuals who are going through something that is very difficult and then they are getting dropped off when they don’t follow along with the political ideology and that is absolutely wrong.”
Hammond and Sharpe see SB1511 as less about health care and more about a political agenda.
“The legislation that we have seen, not only nationally, but here in Arizona has been marginalizing transgender individuals,” Sharpe said.
“We're part of the community,” said Hammond who identifies as a trans woman. “I have kids, I pay my taxes, and all the trans people, we're just getting on with our lives. We're not out trying to make people trans, we don't have a trans agenda. We're just living.”
Arizona Politics
Track all of our current updates with Arizona politics on our 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe for updates on all of our new uploads.