Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law Thursday that prohibits the use of state funds for “sex reassignment surgeries,” hormone replacement therapy and cosmetic surgeries to alter primary or secondary sex characteristics for transgender inmates.
Senate Bill 185 allows for certain exceptions, such as medical care for intersex inmates, treatments deemed “medically necessary” as long as the medical condition is not gender dysphoria, treatments for inmates with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome and hormone replacement therapy for people who are de-transitioning.
“A budget is a reflection of our priorities, and by voting red, we are signaling that our priorities lean more toward paying for sex reassignment surgeries than budget dollars for teachers, pre-K students and for law enforcement, which is why in my mind SB 185 is a common-sense piece of legislation for our constituents,” State Rep. Scott Hilton, R-Peachtree Corners, who carried the bill in the House, said during the floor vote for SB 185 in early April.
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