美国国家公共电台 NPR--More states pass laws to restrict or ban gender-affirming care for transgender kids

More states pass laws to restrict or ban gender-affirming care for transgender kids

Transcript¹

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds last week signed a law banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors². NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Matt McIver, a parent of a transgender child in Des Moines.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

When a child comes out as transgender, the type of support they can get depends, first of all, on their parent or guardian³, and increasingly in America, which state they live in. Many medical groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, endorse⁴ gender-affirming care for trans kids - treatments like puberty blockers and hormone⁵ therapy. But several states have laws restricting or banning it. Yesterday, Kentucky's legislature overrode⁶ a governor's veto, and now it's law. And last week, it was Iowa. Matt McIver, a parent of a trans kid in Des Moines, wants to speak out on this issue while still protecting his child.

MATT MCIVER: The circumstances in the state have changed. And it's a different environment than it was even a week ago. We have a really brave kid who has been very public and very active. But I also don't want to make them feel like this is the only thing in their lives.

FADEL: He says his kid is smart, funny, takes ukulele lessons, circus classes. And before Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed the ban, McIver met with her to ask her not to. Afterward⁷, at a press conference, the governor said this about families with trans kids.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

KIM REYNOLDS: My heart goes out to them. I know how difficult this is. This is an extremely uncomfortable position for me to be in, you know? I don't like it. But I have to do what I believe right now is in the best interest of the kids.

FADEL: What do you make of that comment?

MCIVER: Well, I would hope that it would be hard for her to strip away the rights of parents. I would hope that it would be hard for her to pass a bill that the medical associations say will lead to harm of transgender kids. I would hope that it would be uncomfortable for her to attack a vulnerable community the way this bill does. I hope that those things are true. She did it anyway. And that was heartbreaking and disappointing, to be honest with you. There isn't a medical association in the United States that thinks that this bill will help children.

FADEL: Where were you when you found out that this bill had become law, that the ban was enacted⁸?

MCIVER: I was in a rehearsal⁹. I'm a artistic¹⁰ director for the Iowa Stage Theatre Company. We have a show opening March 31. And I was in rehearsal for that show. And I'll be honest with you, Leila, I stood up, and I walked out of the rehearsal. And I just - I had to stand outside. And I had to try and walk it off because this is a bill that endangers kids I know and love. This is a bill that makes our state a less welcoming state. This bill is a massive step backwards¹¹ for the state of Iowa and awful for the LGBTQ+ community. I'm grateful that we're - our family is in a position where we're privileged that we can do what we need to do for our kids no matter what. But there are a lot of families that aren't.

FADEL: What does that mean, though, when you think about the future of your family, of your child, and decisions you might have to make?

MCIVER: Well, it means that, you know - one of the things that I've learned in the last year about transgender identity is that, really, No. 1, it's incredibly individual. And No. 2, it's a journey. There is a process of exploration. You know, what we see with this bill is the state trying to tell people what medical care they can get and how to live their lives rather than allowing us the liberty as Americans to determine our own way. You know, other states are preparing to deal with an influx¹² of folks from Iowa who still need medical care that is now banned in the state of Iowa.

FADEL: Has this ban - not just this ban, the bans in other states as well and states that are considering it, has it made you think about where you should live in this country? Will you stay in Iowa? Are you thinking, in the future, maybe it's not the place for your family?

MCIVER: I shared with the governor, you know, my wife is a native Iowan. My children are native Iowans. But I'm an Iowan by choice. And I was here when the Varnum decision in 2009 legalized gay marriage in the state of Iowa ahead of the Obergefell decision at the Supreme¹³ Court. There was a lot about this state that was welcoming and accepting 15 years ago. It's a different power structure now. It's a different legislature and governor now. But we do think about, is this the right place long term for us and our family? I already know people who've moved.

FADEL: How has your son weathered all of this as he's watched a political fight over what his doctor can provide for him and which bathroom he can use?

MCIVER: You know what? It's - he's a brave kid and a smart kid. And overall, I mean, as well as we can help, I think there's a lot of kids whose situation is more precarious¹⁴ for various reasons. And those are the kids that I worry most about.

FADEL: Matt McIver of Des Moines, Iowa. Thank you so much.

MCIVER: Thank you.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 minors   

n.未成年人( minor的名词复数 )；副修科目；小公司；[逻辑学]小前提v.[主美国英语]副修，选修，兼修( minor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors. 法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had three minors this semester. 这学期他有三门副修科目。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

4 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

5 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

6 overrode   

越控( override的过去式 )； （以权力）否决； 优先于； 比…更重要

参考例句：

• The chairman overrode the committee's objections and signed the agreement. 主席不顾委员会的反对，径行签署了协议。
• The Congress overrode the President's objection and passed the law. 国会不顾总统的反对，通过了那项法令。

7 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

8 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

9 rehearsal   

n.排练，排演；练习

参考例句：

• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
• You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。

10 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

11 backwards   

adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地

参考例句：

• He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
• All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

12 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

13 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

14 precarious   

adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的

参考例句：

• Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
• He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。