Georgia Democrats Walk Out In Support Of Taxpayer-Funded Sex Changes For Inmates

Georgia House Democrats staged a walkout at the Georgia State Capitol Wednesday, leaving the chamber in protest as lawmakers debated a bill that would end taxpayer-funded sex change surgeries for state prison inmates.

The walkout occurred amidst a heated debate over Senate Bill (SB) 185, which subsequently passed the House by a 100-2 vote, with all Democrats opting out of the vote through their departure, according to Fox Atlanta. The bill received opposition solely from Georgia Democratic Rep. Regina Lewis-Ward and David Sampson. They cast the only two ‘no’ votes while their colleagues walked out in protest. The bill now awaits Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature.

SB 185 prohibits the use of state funds for sex change surgeries, hormone replacement therapies and cosmetic procedures designed to alter sexual characteristics for state inmates in Georgia. Exceptions are allowed for medically necessary treatments unrelated to gender dysphoria, specific congenital conditions, partial androgen insensitivity syndrome and for continuing pre-existing hormone therapies solely for transitional purposes.

Before the walkout, Republican Georgia Rep. Scott Hilton, who introduced the bill on the House floor, said that his constituents oppose using taxpayer money for sex change surgeries for inmates in state custody, saying it provides better health care than what “law-abiding citizens” receive. However, Democratic Georgia Rep. Tanya Miller, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, criticized Republicans for focusing on this bill when she said that only five state inmates have requested such care. She said debating the issue on the penultimate day of this year’s legislative session overlooks more urgent concerns like education, healthcare and public safety.