MADISON – In the early morning hours of June 16, Republican legislators on the Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) passed a motion that would prevent Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming surgery or puberty-blocking drugs used for gender dysphoria or transition in the 2023-2025 state budget. Members of the Wisconsin Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus released the following statement:
“It is shameful that Republican members of the Joint Finance Committee have added language to the state budget to block gender-affirming care for Wisconsinites. Gender-affirming care is safe and medically necessary, and research has shown that it improves patients’ mental and physical health. Clinical and medical associations across the country – including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry – oppose legislation that blocks gender-affirming care. By passing this motion, JFC Republicans have blocked gender-affirming care against the recommendations of every major clinical and medical association.
“Republicans continue to interfere in private decisions that belong in the hands of patients and their doctors. Launching this attack on trans and nonbinary Wisconsinites during Pride Month demonstrates the cruelty on display from JFC Republicans.
“Over the past six months, we have seen attacks against LGBTQ+ people – especially trans and nonbinary youth and their families – increase across the country. We will not stand for attacks like this in our state. To the LGBTQ+ community in Wisconsin, please know that the Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, our Democratic legislative colleagues, and our Governor will never stop fighting for you, and will fight to ensure that this provision will never become law.”
