UPDATE:
Vanderbilt said in a letter that their University Medical Center is halting all gender affirmation surgeries being performed on minors.
This comes after Tennessee Republican lawmakers put their demands for Vanderbilt University Medical Center in a letter, asking the center to stop performing gender-affirming surgeries on minors.
VUMC says WPATH published a new version of its recommendations for treatment of transgender people on September 6th.
In light of the recommendations, and as part of an internal clinical review of SOC-8 guidance for patients under 18, VUMC says they'll be seeking advice from local and national clinical experts.
They say their pausing these surgeries until the review is complete, which could take several months to complete.
EARLIER:
State lawmakers are putting pressure on a prestigious hospital to end transgender surgeries, especially when it comes to minors in Tennessee.
Friday we spoke to both supporters and opponents looking for answers.
Tennessee Republican lawmakers putting their demands for Vanderbilt University Medical Center in a letter, asking the center to stop performing gender-affirming surgeries on minors.
One lawmaker is calling the procedure "abusive."
I see gender transition surgeries as abusive to minor children without question," says Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville).
On Tuesday, Representative Jason Zachary and more than 60 of his colleagues signed the letter calling on VUMC to take “immediate action by halting all permanent gender transitioning surgeries being performed on minor children.”
This is again, this is a fairly new phenomenon. I've been in the legislature for terms this didn't really exist when I came in seven years ago," says Rep. Zachary.
It may be a new topic to some lawmakers, but Evelina Kertay with the Trans Liberation Collective says it’s not a new topic for trans youth.
There are trans people in the community. You can talk to them. We're not scary," says Kertay.
We brought up to Kertay lawmakers describing this procedure for minors as "abusive."
I don't see how it's abusive, if you know, the individual, the family, and the doctor are making those decisions in the best interest," says Kertay.
A spokesperson for the medical center released a statement saying in part, “VUMC requires parental consent to treat a minor patient who is to be seen for issues related to transgender care and never refuses parental involvement in the care of transgender youth who are under age 18.”
I would encourage them to talk to the parents of trans children and talk to trans youth," says Kertay. "I think it's important for people to learn more about this. There's a lot of false information out there."
According to the bill’s text, however, a bill that would have made gender-affirming surgeries for the same age group illegal never came to a final vote.
Neither Erlanger, Parkridge nor CHI Memorial here in Chattanooga performs Gender Transitioning procedures on minors.