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

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 185 into law, banning the use of state funds for gender-affirming care, including surgeries and hormone therapies, for transgender inmates in state prisons. The bill passed with strong Republican support and minimal Democratic backing, prompting a Democratic walkout in the Georgia House in protest, with opponents arguing the legislation is a mean-spirited attack on a small minority and distracts from more pressing issues. Supporters, primarily Republicans, defended the bill as a fiscally responsible measure, despite the Department of Justice's prior report citing mistreatment and unconstitutional conditions for transgender inmates in Georgia prisons. In Iowa, a similar policy passed in the House to ban Medicaid coverage for gender transition surgeries and hormone therapies, framing the treatments under behavioral health and emphasizing taxpayer concerns, although previous attempts had been blocked by courts. Kemp's signing of SB 185 aligns with his broader tough-on-crime agenda, including recent criminal justice reforms such as the Georgia Survivor Justice Act and measures to protect intellectually disabled defendants from the death penalty. The controversy highlights ongoing partisan divides over transgender rights and healthcare access, particularly for incarcerated and low-income individuals reliant on state-funded services.