John Oliver Announces Alabama’s Anti-Transgender Law, Governor Kay Ivey – The Hollywood Reporter
John Oliver takes on Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and her state’s Vulnerable Children Charity and Protection Act, aimed at transgender youth, on Sunday Last week Tonight.
The law makes prescribing or using sex-affirming drugs to transgender minors to help assert their new gender identity a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
“It’s absolutely appalling,” Oliver said, adding: “No one should face criminal punishment for providing healthcare to young people.”
The law was signed by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. It should be noted that on Friday, a judge blocked part of the law making it a felony. (The ruling is a victory for families and advocacy groups, who have challenged legislation of this kind to illegally intrude on family and medical decisions. Ivey called the ruling a “barrier.” provisional legal action”, while the Alabama attorney general said he would appeal. However, the judge made another part of the law banning sex-affirmation surgery for transgender minors, which the The doctor testified not to be performed on minors in Alabama.He also made a provision that requires counselors and other school officials to tell parents if a minor discloses that they think they’re transgender.)
Targeting Ivey, Oliver noted that she is “deeply committed to anti-transgender legislation, even making it a feature of her re-election campaign”. He showed a campaign promotional clip in which she said, “Some things are just facts. Hot summers, oceans, and gender are a question of biology, not identity. Here, in Alabama, we’ll go the way God made us, because we identify with something libertarians will never have: reality. “
Oliver’s reply: “First, damn it. Second, ‘Hot summer, big ocean’ sounds unfavourable when it comes to denying transgender people’s rights. It sounds like a children’s book the author wrote when he was hanged. ”
He continued: “For her point that I have to respect the way God made us, right? Really? Why? Because we have so many holes, so few hairs and necks – fragile lollipop bones that can balance our stupid head in a very specific direction, or else we would die. None of these designs are clever designs,” he said, referring to his own body.
Oliver noted that some major medical associations oppose bans on sex-affirmative care because “it saves lives, and withdrawing it can be extremely harmful.”
She said a video of a transgender girl documenting the impact this had on her – “It would destroy me mentally and physically” – Oliver directed his comment again at Ivey : “If you could look at [her] or any child and feel free to say, ‘Let go of the care that gives them peace and a sense of self,’ you’re a terrible person. “
He then spoke to transgender youths in Alabama, assuring them that they matter and that they are “deeply and irreplaceable.”
Talking to Ivey again, he said: “What’s wrong with you? … In a word, you will surely understand, ‘The summers are hot, the oceans are wide, and the people of Alabama certainly deserve much more than you.’
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
