Katrina Smith claims 'people overwhelmed' over Maine's bill allowing teens gender-affirming healthcare
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The January 19 episode of 'Fox & Friends' had Maine Republican State Representative join co-host Steve Doocy to discuss the 'Act to Safeguard Gender Affirming Health Care' being considered by her state legislature.
The bill is said to be groundbreaking as it aims to provide out-of-state teenagers access to care, without requiring parental consent for treatment. It also moves to prevent law enforcement from bringing parents to their children and grants Maine temporary jurisdiction over the minors.
The progressive nature of the bill made Doocy claim that it was an effort to turn the state of Maine into a 'transgender safe haven.'
Critics call proposed legislation 'state-sponsored kidnapping'
Smith being one of the vocal opponents of the bill told Doocy, "Maine is going to open the door to kids who meet someone on Tiktok, get the idea that they need the surgery or the hormone replacement therapy, and they're going grab a box or someone is going to bring them to Maine, and their parent is not going to do a thing about it."
When the co-host asked about what happens after the children have gone through the procedure, Smith shared that they may return to their parents "because they realize the mistake they have made and they need the person who loves them to take care of them."
"But I think otherwise, they are going to stay in the fantasy world that they get involved in when they go through this gender transition, go through counseling that looks at only one option for their diaspora, their fears, whatever they are searching for."
"The state of Maine has said, 'Come to us, we'll take care of you'. I don't know how long it's going to last, or how (the children) would go to school, or anything," she added.
Blaming the bill on the Democrats' agenda
"The reason this has got this far...is because Maine has a super majority of Democrats," exclaimed Doocy and added, "And this is part of their agenda in the state..."
He proceeded to ask what the people of Maine think of the proposed legislation, to which Smith replied, "I think they are overwhelmed with the thought of this. They know that this is just making decisions for kids and pushing them to make decisions that they are not ready to make."
"I think even Democrats, not maybe the socialist ones but the other ones are thinking, 'This isn't a good idea'. There's been a huge outcry from the committee members who are going to vote, and they've heard a lot over the last week. And I think they should, they are the ones who put this bill up...bringing this to Maine when the people have not said this is what they want," she concluded.
