Georgia Gov. Kemp Signs Bill Banning Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Inmates

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed legislation banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender inmates in state prisons, including sex reassignment surgeries, hormone replacement therapy, and cosmetic procedures, with some exceptions for medically necessary treatments unrelated to gender dysphoria. The bill, part of a broader GOP effort to regulate transgender rights, passed despite protests and mass walkouts by Democrats in the state House, who argue the legislation targets a very small population and wastes taxpayer money. Republicans defend the bill as a measure to protect taxpayers and control spending, echoing national conservative critiques of gender-affirming care. This legislation follows earlier measures signed by Kemp that restrict transgender girls from participating in school sports and ban gender-affirming surgeries for minors. The prison care ban further deepens divisions within the Democratic Party, with some members opposing the bill as discriminatory and others cautioning against engaging in culture war battles. The law took effect immediately and may face legal challenges, reflecting an ongoing intensification of transgender-related policies in Georgia.