A reporter from the Daily Caller News Foundation explained the radical stance taken by Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, a possible running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris, on Monday to pressure medical professionals to perform sex-reassignment surgeries on children.
Governor Shapiro's administration has teamed up with the LGBT advocacy group The Trevor Project to accuse counselors and other medical professionals who do not participate in student gender reassignment surgeries of engaging in “conversion therapy.” DCNF investigative reporter Megan Block appeared on the show. The Charlie Kirk Show We discuss Shapiro's use of state licensing boards to target counselors, nurses, doctors and therapists. (Related story: 'Look at the size of it': CNN data expert says one of Harris' potential running mates has big net worth)
“Governor Shapiro's administration has pressured state licensing boards to adopt policy statements making it unprofessional conduct for nurses, doctors and therapists to put a child on a path other than one that confirms their so-called 'gender identity,'” Bullock told host Charlie Kirk.
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“Because the Pennsylvania Legislature is divided, they have not been successful in passing a state law banning this so-called 'conversion therapy,'” Block added. “So the Shapiro Administration has worked with activists, particularly the Trevor Project, to pressure these boards to adopt a policy statement that specifically states that if a counselor, nurse or doctor is attempting to resolve a child's gender concerns rather than leading them down a path of medicalization, they are converting a child's gender identity, which is a crime punishable by the state board and that punishment could include revocation of their license.”
Shapiro, who is the leading contender to be Harris' running mate, avoided the legislative gridlock by working with the Trevor Project to lobby state licensing boards to enact the bill. countermeasureIt came into effect on June 8th.
“This action by the commission is more binding than if there was state law because the decision makers are the professionals and their colleagues, they are the ones saying this is not up to standard, they are the ones who can influence disciplinary action,” said Perry Monastero, who lists The Trevor Project as a pro bono client. LinkedIn PageHe said in May: according to In the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Bullock also detailed how the policy statement effectively circumvented constitutional procedures, noting that the state committee was a political appointee of Shapiro and was confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate.
“Just the threat of potentially losing your job and your ability to provide for your family will have a chilling effect on the entire profession,” Bullock said.
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