Democratic congressional nominee Amish Shah is facing renewed scrutiny over a 2022 Arizona House vote against legislation prohibiting physicians from performing certain irreversible gender reassignment surgeries on minors.
AZ Free News highlighted the vote this week as the race for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District intensifies. The recorded House roll call shows Shah joined 25 other Democrats in opposing Senate Bill 1138, which passed 31-26 along party lines March 24, 2022.
The law bars physicians from providing “irreversible gender reassignment surgery” to anyone younger than 18. Its definition includes mastectomies, hysterectomies and several genital surgeries performed for gender transition. The measure includes exceptions for certain disorders of sex development, treatment of complications and procedures needed to prevent death or major bodily impairment.
The restriction did not prohibit puberty blockers or hormone therapy, ABC15 reported when Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed it. Ducey called the measure “common-sense and narrowly targeted,” arguing irreversible procedures should wait until adulthood. Opponents said the state was overriding parents and doctors and warned the law could harm transgender youth. It took effect April 1, 2023.
The National Republican Congressional Committee is now using Shah’s vote to attack him in his general-election contest against Republican Jay Feely. The committee criticized Shah’s votes against restrictions involving transgender athletes and school bathrooms. Those issues are separate from the surgery law.
Shah’s current campaign issues page promotes universal health care, abortion rights and public-school funding but does not state a position on transgender medical care. AZ Free News reported that he did not explain his Senate Bill 1138 vote during the 2022 floor debate.
Shah and Feely are competing for an open, closely watched seat covering Scottsdale, northeast Phoenix and nearby communities. The outcome could help determine control of the U.S. House.
