A 10-year-old transgender girl from Ohio has expressed concern about her state's attempt to block access to gender-affirming care for minors.
On Friday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, will announce his decision on whether to ban the treatments.
DeWine had 10 days to make a decision on the bill, House Bill 68, which passed the Ohio House and Senate earlier this month.
Astrid Burkle told it ABC news, in an interview with her family that she was angry at the 'mean' people who tried to prevent the treatments.
Her mother, Alicia Burkle, said that although her daughter was currently too young to undergo surgery, she was receiving extensive therapy and mental health care, and was concerned that Ohio could ban more important treatments, such as puberty blockers, before her daughter was old enough was to operate. receive it.
“It was very frustrating at times,” Astrid said. “Because there are so many people who are just really mean.”
Astrid Burkle, 10, is seen with her sister Abs, mother Alicia and father Aaron
Astrid Burkle, 10, told ABC News she worries about 'mean' people blocking her health care
Aaron Burkle, her father, said their local community was supportive, but her sister Abs said they would be allowed to leave Ohio if trans treatment for minors is blocked.
“We want to be able to support our communities and the state of Ohio, but people will leave,” said Abs Burkle.
“People are going to get hurt. They won't want to go back to Ohio.”
Alicia Burkle agreed with her daughter and said they would move if they had to.
“Just because you said you're not going to allow us to get care here in Ohio doesn't mean we're suddenly going to stop caring for our children,” Alicia Burkle said.
'We trust science, we trust its healthcare providers. And so we're going to do what we have to do and whether that's leaving the state to get it, whether it's leaving the state and moving – that's what we're going to do.”
Ohio is considering following 22 other states and banning gender-affirming care for youth under the age of 18.
The Human Rights Campaign says that so far, 22 states have banned access to gender-affirming care
Aaron Burkle and his wife Alicia say they are considering moving from Ohio if DeWine passes the bill
The term refers to medical treatments, ranging from therapy to puberty blockers to surgery, for transgender people.
Neighboring states Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia have all banned such treatments.
House Bill 68 not only bans access to gender-affirming treatments, but also prevents transgender student-athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports.
DeWine has previously said it is a complex issue. He has also spent time visiting hospitals and speaking with families who have been both helped and harmed by gender-affirming care.
“The one thing I think is clear is that both parties want the best for children,” DeWine said.
He said his decision will ultimately be based on what he believes is in the best interests of the children who will be affected.
More than three-fifths of lawmakers voted in favor of the bill and could override its veto.
The Burkle family is seen in a 2017 photo
Gender-affirming care has been called safe and effective by more than 20 major national medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association (AMA), ABC reports.
The AMA has said that this care may be medically necessary to improve the physical and mental health of transgender people.
During the Dec. 13 debate, Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson argued against the bill, saying it prevented parents from acting in their child's best interests.
“As we look at this legislation, let's be clear: It's not necessarily about preventing children from being exposed to these types of procedures, it's about preventing parents from making health care decisions for their children,” she said.
“It also takes that health care decision away from professionals and parents and puts it back on the government.”
But Terry Johnson, another senator and a retired doctor, said he was in favor of blocking the treatments.
“If you don't know if something you do is going to hurt someone 10, 15, 20 years from now – or maybe even a year from now – then don't do it,” he said.
“The medical evidence is not there to support what we are doing in the country.”