White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki lamented Wednesday evening that legislation now bans Arizona minors from obtaining transgender sex change surgeries.
Psaki spoke out on social media after Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a slew of culture-war-type legislation Wednesday, banning abortions after 15 weeks, transgender surgeries for minors, and biological males from women’s sports.
She also referenced Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who signed a bill banning biological males from women’s sports on Wednesday.
“Today, four extreme and harmful bills were signed into law in Oklahoma and Arizona, three targeting transgender youth (2 AZ, 1 OK) and one reproductive health care (AZ),” Psaki tweeted.
“These laws are unacceptable and we won’t stop fighting for justice and equality,” she added.
The press secretary notably used the activist phrasing “targeting transgender youth” to describe the bills banning biological males from women’s sports and banning transgender surgeries for minors, obscuring the meaning of the legislation.
Psaki did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Wire.
On Thursday, the White House flagged a resource from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health on “Transgender Day of Visibility” intended to “inform parents and guardians, educators, and other persons supporting children and adolescents with information on what is gender-affirming care and why it is important to transgender, nonbinary, and other gender expansive young people’s well-being.”
That messaging states that “early” transgender surgeries, hormone treatment, and affirmations are “crucial” for the health of kids and teens who identify as transgender and nonbinary.
Gender-affirming care is a phrase used by transgender activists and media to describe the more grisly sounding transgender top and bottom surgeries, including removing a biological women’s breasts, removing a biological man’s genitals, sculpting a fake penis on a biological woman, facial feminization or facial masculinization, and more.
Social affirmation, puberty blockers, and hormones also fall under the “gender-affirming care” umbrella.
Commentators, lawmakers, people who identify as transgender, and people who formerly attempted transitions have expressed grave concerns about encouraging children or young people to explore transitions of any kind.
“Gender-affirming care is a supportive form of healthcare,” the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health sheet says. “It consists of an array of services that may include medical, surgical, mental health, and non-medical services for transgender and nonbinary people.”
“For transgender and nonbinary children and adolescents, early gender-affirming care is crucial to overall health and well-being as it allows the child or adolescent to focus on social transitions and can increase their confidence while navigating the healthcare system,” the White House messaging says.