More than a hundred protest bill that would ban certain medical care for transgender youth

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — As a bill that would ban medical providers from giving gender affirming care to transgender youth in West Virginia advances in the Legislature, it met strong opposition on Thursday from a group of chanting protesters.

More than a hundred LGBTQ+ advocates gathered inside the West Virginia Capitol Building, demonstrating their concerns about the effects House Bill 2007 could have on the health and well-being of transgender youth.

West Virginia Trans Coalition founding member E Bowen said the group was speaking out "because of the legislative attacks that have been pushed from this body and throughout this country."

"We're here to express our rage and our solidarity with one another,” Bowen said.

House Bill 2007 would ban a physician from giving hormone therapy or perform gender reassignment surgery to someone under the age of 18. Supporters of the bill said it's all about protecting children.

"I don’t believe that the solution to whether you think you're transgender or not is to cut parts off of little kids," HB 2007 supporter Dennis Westover said. "Once you're an adult, you're free to do what you want, but I really think that it's not right to do kids that way."

Members of the West Virginia Capitol Police observed as the protest moved near the House chambers. Each time a delegate walked out of the chambers, chants grew louder.

There were no arrests or major incidents reported. A state Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said: the Capitol Police "work diligently to maintain order and protect the people that visit our Capitol. Today, is no different. There has not been any extraordinary activity at the facility today that would raise any concern or need for additional staffing.”

On Thursday, there was no debate on the Senate floor for House Bill 2007.

The bill heads to its third and final reading, the vote could happen as early as Friday.