H.R. 7420 — Stop Gender Trafficking of Minors Act

This section sets forth congressional findings concerning (1) international medical guidance against the routine use of puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-altering surgeries for minors absent long-term evidence of benefits and safety, as well as rising detransition and regret rates; (2) the federal interest in protecting minors from experimental and irreversible medical procedures that may cause long-term harm such as sterilization, loss of sexual function, and psychological distress; and (3) the transportation of minors across state lines for such procedures as interstate activity subject to federal regulation under the Commerce Clause.

This section establishes a new criminal offense (18 U.S.C. §1205) prohibiting whoever knowingly transports a minor in interstate or foreign commerce, travels in interstate or foreign commerce, or uses the mail or any interstate facility in furtherance of transporting a minor to obtain a gender transition procedure, punishable by fine, imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both. It authorizes a minor or the minor's parent or legal guardian to bring a civil action in federal district court for injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorneys' fees. "Gender transition procedure" is defined to include puberty-blocking medications, cross-sex hormones, or surgical interventions (e.g., mastectomy, phalloplasty, vaginoplasty) intended to alter the minor's sex characteristics inconsistent with the minor's biological sex. This section prohibits federal funding to any state, unit of local government, or other governmental entity that (1) enacts, implements, or maintains a policy permitting or encouraging interstate transportation of a minor for a gender transition procedure; (2) declares itself a sanctuary jurisdiction for such procedures; (3) fails to cooperate with a federal investigation of a violation of new §1205; or (4) fails to cooperate with federal investigations or enforcement actions related to this Act.