An agency of the United Methodist Church has expressed support for federal legislation that would remove bans on cosmetic sex-change procedures for minors. Bishop Julius C. Trimble of the General Board of Church and Society issued a statement condemning discrimination against transgender individuals and highlighting challenges they face. “Transgender youth often experience a combination of sexual harassment, bullying, school violence and estrangement from family members. They are also disproportionately placed in foster care and welfare programs compared to their peers,” he wrote.
Trimble also criticized laws restricting gender-related medical treatments and endorsed the proposed Transgender Bill of Rights, which seeks to expand legal protections and access to care, including for adolescents. The bill calls for eliminating government restrictions on such treatments.
The statement reflects the agency’s position but has drawn criticism. Mark Tooley of the Institute on Religion and Democracy argued it does not reference biblical teaching on male and female. Debate continues nationwide as policymakers and medical experts weigh concerns about the safety and ethics of such treatments for minors.
