Tennessee 28th District Update

New legislation will protect minors from irreversible procedures to change their gender identity

The Tennessee General Assembly is at the forefront of a fight to protect minors from irreversible elective procedures to identify as a gender different from their biological sex. New legislation filed proposes the strongest protections in the nation to prohibit physicians from removing healthy body parts on minors or medical interventions that alter a child’s hormonal balance.

These practices are experimental and have serious long term physical and mental health consequences for children. I am glad to support this legislation, and I will work to see that it is passed in the General Assembly this upcoming session.

Lawmakers committed to ban gender-disfiguring procedures for minors after troubling videos surfaced on social media in September. Reports from the Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh showed a local medical provider promoting so-called ‘gender-affirming care’ as a “huge money maker.” The reports raised nationwide awareness and serious ethical concerns about procedures performed on minors at pediatric transgender clinics across the country.

I am grateful to Matt Walsh for his important investigations into pediatric transgender clinics right here in Middle Tennessee where these types of irreversible medical ‘treatments’ are being pushed on children. As a physician myself, it is abhorrent to me that there are physicians who are touting such detrimental procedures as a cure for a serious mental condition. These physicians should be held accountable under the law, and this legislation will do just that.

The Protecting Children from Gender Mutilation Act, which has been filed as Senate Bill 1, creates a private right of action allowing a minor injured due to a violation of the law to sue for damages. The legislation also allows courts to impose an additional $25,000 penalty for each violation.

The Protecting Children from Gender Mutilation Act:

Creates a private right of action allowing a minor or the parent of a minor injured as a result of the violation to sue for damages

Allows a child to bring a civil cause of action against a parent if a parent consented to the violation on the minor’s behalf

Allows courts to impose a $25,000 penalty per violation

Requires the state attorney general to establish a process for reporting violation of the law

Allows the state attorney general to bring an action against a health care provider for knowingly violating the law within 20 years of the violation

The bill makes exceptions for children born with chromosomal anomalies or congenital defects.

Protecting Minors from Sexually Explicit Drag Shows

Other legislation filed recently bans sexually explicit drag shows from being performed where minors on present on public or private property. Senate Bill 3 would require that patrons entering a private property hosting a sexually explicit drag show must show ID to prove they are 18 or older.

There have been a couple incidents across the state where these types of so called “family friendly” drag shows have been performed in front of children. Any sort of show that is sexual in nature is inappropriate for children. Period.

I am happy to support these bills, and I will certainly keep you updated on their status as the move through the General Assembly in 2023 General Assembly.

Contact Senator Hensley at

425 5th Avenue North, Suite 746

Nashville TN 37243

615-741-3100

Toll Free 1-800-449-8366

ext. 13100

Fax 615-253-0231

855 Summertown Highway

Hohenwald TN 38462

Phone 931-796-2018

Cell Phone 931-212-8823

E-mail:

[email protected]