Altoona Times

State legislators, medical professionals, and advocates gathered for a public hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee in Altoona to discuss the potential harm of allowing minors to undergo gender transitioning operations. The hearing, hosted by Sen. Judy Ward (R-30) and chaired by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), explored the impact of these practices on children.

“Today’s hearing was eye-opening and highlighted the damaging practices that are being done to children,” stated Ward. The testimony presented at the hearing is intended to prompt legislative action, such as the Do No Harm Act, to protect minors, she added.

Dan Bartkowiak from the Pennsylvania Family Council presented data showing that between 2015 and 2023, almost 5,000 minors received state-funded gender transition services, costing over $21.8 million. From 2015 to 2023, annual expenses increased significantly from $58,919 to $5,149,694.

On January 28, 2025, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring that the United States will not fund or support gender transition procedures for minors.

Simon B. Amaya Price shared his experience with transitioning, citing emotional manipulation by medical professionals. “I experienced emotional manipulation and malpractice from my doctors, one of whom asked my father ‘would you like a dead son or a living daughter’ while I was in the room,” he recounted. After three years, Price detransitioned upon realizing his issues were not related to his gender identity.

January Littlejohn, from Do No Harm, spoke of her daughter’s distress with her gender identity, beginning at age 13. Her research revealed a lack of high-quality evidence supporting the effectiveness of medical transition interventions.

Dr. Kurt Miceli, medical director of Do No Harm, provided insights from a review of insurance records showing that 316 minors had undergone sex reassignment surgeries in Pennsylvania between 2019 and 2023. He noted that studies found “no good evidence on the long-term outcomes” of these interventions, referencing the United Kingdom's ban on puberty blockers for minors.

“It’s difficult for me to understand how we could expect children to make informed decisions about these life-changing procedures,” Argall commented. He expressed gratitude toward Sen. Ward for her efforts to protect children.

Ward announced plans to introduce the Do No Harm Act, aiming to prohibit minors from receiving gender transitioning procedures and prevent public funds from being used for these services.