Several state legislators representing the Mat-Su wholeheartedly agree with the Alaska State Medical Board’s opposition to hormonal and surgical treatments for gender-confused minors. 

On March 21, the Medical Board unanimously adopted a statement urging the Alaska Legislature to stop chemical and surgical mutilation of minors. The statement was sent to all 60 members of the Legislature – signed by Board Chair Brent Taylor, MD, and Legislative Liaison Dr. Matt Heilala.

“We view these interventions as lacking legitimacy as standard medical practice for those under the age of 18 years old,” the Medical Board cautioned. “We support legislative limits on such treatments and promote psychological support and counseling as safer alternatives. This reflects our duty to protect patients and uphold evidence-based care.”

In response, four lawmakers from the Mat-Su offered their support for the Medical Board’s position, as did the entire House Minority Republican caucus.

“As mentors, coaches, teachers, and parents, we have a duty to safeguard children’s mental and physical well-being,” stated Rep. Jubilee Underwood (R-Wasilla). “True care means providing compassionate psychological support – not irreversible interventions that compromise their future.”

Sen. Rob Yundt (R-Wasilla) agreed.

“I applaud the board for standing against the hormonal and surgical procedures on children,” he stated. “These so-called ‘treatments’ should never have been allowed in the first place. Furthermore, any doctor that performed these procedures contributed to harming an innocent child.”

Rep. Kevin McCabe welcomed the statement from the Medical Board, saying it was past due.

“It is heartbreaking to think about how many children had to suffer at the hands of medical professionals before this was stopped,” he noted.

Sen. Shelley Hughes (R-Palmer) highlighted the irreversible harm of so-called “gender-affirming” care.

“We need to stop treating Alaska’s children as lab rats,” she said. “Disfiguring procedures are irreversible, and render youth with damaging, lifelong impacts. A young person experiencing gender confusion needs counseling, not a knife or chemicals.”

Despite the fact that Democrats control both the State House and Senate, the more conservative Mat-Su members say they aim to work with the Alaska State Medical Board to support policies that protect Alaska children from harmful and fringe medical ideologies.

“Instead of encouraging children to harm their bodies, we should be working together to heal their minds,” the group stated.

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