Congressman Cohen Says Transgender Rights are Civil Rights

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen TN-9), a past Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today spoke at a hearing of the renamed subcommittee on “gender-affirming” health care. He raised questions about the direction the subcommittee is taking in raising culture war issues and defended the civil rights of transgender people.

In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said in part:

“Restricting health care for transgender youth because they are transgender is a civil rights violation. It’s also a violation of parents’ rights in raising their children.

“When we were talking about vaccines and face masks, Republicans argued parental rights were sacrosanct and parents had the right to direct health care decisions for the children. But when it comes to gender-affirming care, Republicans think that the government should make these sensitive, very personal, health care decisions.

“For MAGA Republicans, Americans should only have access to health care if their health care decisions match the Republicans’ radical beliefs. Republicans fought against the Affordable Care Act; refused to expand Medicaid, leaving millions without health care coverage, including 120,000 in my state, Tennessee; passed countless abortion bans depriving women of safe reproductive health care; spread misinformation and tried to undercut medical experts during the COVID pandemic; and now, they are trying to limit gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

“By limiting access to health care, wedging their right-wing ideology into the exam room, and substituting their personal beliefs for the professional judgment of doctors, these Republicans are causing needless suffering.

“In the past two Congresses, I Chaired this Subcommittee. When the Republicans took control, they changed the name to replace ‘Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties’ with ‘Constitution and Limited Government.’ I was disappointed, but not surprised, that Civil Rights and Civil Liberties were removed. What I don’t understand, however, is how this has anything to do with ‘Limited Government.’ There is nothing ‘limited’ about inserting the preferences and beliefs of federal legislators into individual health care decisions about young people. It is intrusive and dangerous.”

See his entire remarks here.

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