‘A baby cannot provide … consent’: Calif. lawmakers denounce infant intersex surgeries
“The California State Legislature approved a resolution on Tuesday denouncing medically unnecessary surgeries for intersex children.
“Intersex children should be free to choose whether to undergo life-altering surgeries that irreversibly — and sometimes irreparably — cause harm,” the resolution states.
SCR 110 was introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat whose district includes San Francisco, and it was supported by Equality California, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy group, and interACT, an intersex youth advocacy organization.
In a statement provided to NBC News, Wiener said the resolution “recognizes that California’s intersex community is a part of our state’s diversity and should be embraced.”
“These surgeries should be performed only with informed consent by the person whose life will be permanently impacted,” Wiener stated. “A baby cannot provide that consent.”
“These surgeries can have significant negative impacts on people’s lives, particularly if the gender chosen by the physician and parents is different from the child’s ultimate gender identity,” Wiener continued.
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