Georgia House Democrats staged a walkout at the Georgia State Capitol Wednesday, leaving the chamber in protest as lawmakers debated a bill that would end taxpayer-funded sex change surgeries for state prison inmates.
The walkout occurred amidst a heated debate over Senate Bill (SB) 185, which subsequently passed the House by a 100-2 vote, with all Democrats opting out of the vote through their departure, according to Fox Atlanta. The bill received opposition solely from Georgia Democratic Rep. Regina Lewis-Ward and David Sampson. They cast the only two ‘no’ votes while their colleagues walked out in protest. The bill now awaits Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature.
SB 185 prohibits the use of state funds for sex change surgeries, hormone replacement therapies and cosmetic procedures designed to alter sexual characteristics for state inmates in Georgia. Exceptions are allowed for medically necessary treatments unrelated to gender dysphoria, specific congenital conditions, partial androgen insensitivity syndrome and for continuing pre-existing hormone therapies solely for transitional purposes.