Bill to protect Nebraska children from gender-altering procedures advances

Nebraska lawmakers on Thursday voted to advance the Let Them Grow Act (LB574), which protects minors from gender-altering procedures. 

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, overcame a filibuster attempt, and 30 senators voted to move the bill to the second round of debate.

Kauth’s bill prohibits medical providers from performing gender-altering procedures for anyone younger than 19.  

 The Nebraska Catholic Conference, which advocates for the public policy interests of the Catholic Church, supports the bill.  

Nebraska Catholic Conference Executive Director Tom Venzor said the strong floor speeches during first-round debate underscored the importance of safeguarding children from harmful and irreversible puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and transgender surgeries.

“As Catholics, the Gospel calls us to show care and compassion for those struggling to embrace their biological sex and to support public policies that help – rather than harm – children,” Venzor said.  

 With two rounds of debate ahead, Venzor called on Catholics in Nebraska to remain engaged on this issue.  

Catholic Resources for LB574 

• NCC Testimony for LB574 
• List of Church Documents 
• Person and Identity (website containing helpful information about the transgender issue) 
• Eden Invitation (lay apostolate helping individuals who struggle with same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria live in communion with Christ and the Catholic Church) 
• “Science, the Transgender Phenomenon, and the Young,” by Abigail Shrier (lecture given at Hillsdale College) 
• “How to Talk about Transgender Ideology,” by Counsel of Trent (videocast with Trent Horn featuring Jason Evert) 
• “The Genesis of Gender,” by Mere Fidelity (podcast featuring Abigail Favale)