New Legislation Threatens Rights of Trans Youth and FGM Survivors Across the U.S.
New Legislation Threatens Rights of Trans Youth and FGM Survivors
On August 7, 2025, leading legal, human rights, and medical professionals voiced their concerns regarding Congressional bill H.R. 3492. This proposed legislation seeks to expand the scope of the STOP FGM Act, a law designed to protect women and girls from female genital mutilation (FGM). However, H.R. 3492 has raised alarm among advocates as it aims to criminalize gender-affirming care for individuals under 18.
The concerns stem from the bill's potential impact on transgender minors who rely on gender-affirming healthcare to live authentically according to their gender identity. By conflating gender-affirming treatment with FGM, the bill risks undermining existing legal protections against FGM while simultaneously jeopardizing the medical needs of trans youth. According to Anastasia Law of Equality Now, without clear distinctions, critical efforts to end FGM and support transgender rights may falter.
The Dangers of Conflating FGM and Gender-Affirming Care
FGM involves the non-medical removal of part or all of external female genitalia, recognized globally as a severe human rights violation and gender-based violence. It poses significant health risks without any medical benefits, often leading to chronic infections and complications. Conversely, gender-affirming care is an evidence-based medical practice supported by organizations such as the American Medical Association and the World Health Organization. Extensive research highlights that such care improves mental health outcomes, reducing suicidal tendencies among transgender minors.
However, H.R. 3492 misrepresents the two by blurring the lines, potentially complicating legal interpretations and obstructing both FGM prevention initiatives and the healthcare rights of transgender individuals. It labels essential gender-affirming care as criminal activity while casting a shadow over the urgent need to protect girls from FGM.
Legislative Context and Recent Developments
Dubbed the 'Protect Children's Innocence Act,' H.R. 3492 fits into a broader movement across multiple U.S. states aimed at limiting gender-affirming medical care for minors. In January 2025, a White House executive order described gender-affirming treatment as
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