Good News! Trans youth healthcare ban defeated in the Senate

The ban was attached to a plan to defund subsidies for health insurance plans bought through the public market.

By Jane Migliara Brigham

A proposed ban on trans youth healthcare of any kind was defeated in the Senate earlier today.

The ban was part of a Republican alternative to the extension of subsidies to public health insurance plans.  These subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year, raising healthcare costs for 22 million people.  

The bill was opposed by every Senate Democrat, and was supported by all but 3 Republicans, with one voting against, and two being absent from the vote.

If passed, it would have been the most comprehensive ban on trans healthcare ever passed at the federal level, and the most consequential piece of anti-queer legislation since the Defense of Marriage Act was passed in 1996.

Seeing as both parties are attempting to pass a bill regarding ACA subsidies, there is a possibility that this ban or a similar bill might be voted on again.  However, seeing as any such legislation would need the support of 60% of the senate, it is doubtful that it would pass through this method.

Sadly, this is not the only trans youth healthcare ban set to be voted on in Congress.  

Yesterday, Marjorie Taylor Greene secured a deal that involved a House floor vote on a similar ban.  As of writing, it is unclear if the bill has a realistic chance of becoming law.

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