Democrats in Georgia have staged a walk-out in support of giving taxpayer-funded transgender surgery to male prison inmates who claim to be female.
Democrats staged a protest at the Georgia State Capitol on Wednesday.
They left the chamber in protest as lawmakers debated a bill that would end taxpayer-funded “sex change” surgeries for state prison inmates.
The walkout occurred amid a heated debate over Senate Bill (SB) 185.
The legislation subsequently passed the House by a 100-2 vote.
All Democrats opted out of the vote through their departure, according to Fox Atlanta.
The bill received opposition solely from Georgia Democrat Reps. Regina Lewis-Ward and David Sampson.
They cast the only two ‘no’ votes while their colleagues walked out in protest.
The bill now awaits Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature.
SB 185 prohibits the use of state funds for transgender treatments for state inmates in Georgia.
Those treatments include so-called “sex change” surgeries, hormone replacement therapies, and cosmetic procedures designed to alter sexual characteristics.
Exceptions are allowed for medically necessary treatments unrelated to gender dysphoria, specific congenital conditions, partial androgen insensitivity syndrome, and for continuing pre-existing hormone therapies solely for transitional purposes.
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The bill was introduced on the House floor by Republican Georgia Rep. Scott Hilton.
Before the walkout, Hilton said that his constituents oppose using taxpayer money for sex change surgeries for inmates in state custody.
The lawmaker said the prison system provides better health care than what “law-abiding citizens” receive.
However, Democrat Georgia Rep. Tanya Miller, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, criticized Republicans for focusing on this bill.
Miller said that only five state inmates have requested such care.
She argues that debating the issue on the penultimate day of this year’s legislative session overlooks more urgent concerns like education, healthcare, and public safety.
“Our constituents sent us here to address serious pressing issues affecting their daily lives,” Miller said.
“Yet, instead of addressing real problems, my colleagues in the majority party continue their extreme agenda.”
After the Democrats had walked out of the chamber, Republican Rep. Trey Kelley denounced their exit.
Kelley said that leaving the chamber instead of advocating for fiscal responsibility was disgraceful.
Republican House Majority Whip James Burchett said that elections have outcomes and added that Georgia taxpayers deem this issue significant and oppose funding elective surgeries
GOP lawmakers said that the bill allows for exceptions, permitting the Georgia Department of Corrections to cover treatments deemed medically necessary, including for inmates with chromosomal abnormalities that cause ambiguous biological sex.
In response, Miller said that the bill is an assault on Georgia’s transgender community.
Meanwhile, California continues to provide “sex change” surgeries for inmates.
The state has spent over $4 million on such procedures since 2017.
The state’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has seen a significant increase in requests for these surgeries, with numbers expected to rise further in the coming years.
In contrast, states like Georgia, Idaho, and Texas have enacted strict limitations or outright bans on providing sex change surgeries to minors.
In some cases, these restrictions were extended to adults, including inmates.
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