“There but for the grace of God go I.”

It’s what my grandmother would say to me when, as a child, I would judge the path another person might walk. Never has this applied more strongly than in the passage of House Bill 71, a bill that criminalizes gender-affirming care for transgender youth. With her words of wisdom in mind, I would ask that Gov. Brad Little veto this bill.

As the proud grandparent of a transgender young person, I know first-hand the care, caution and time that goes into treatment for these kids. Parents are doing everything they can to keep their kids safe, kids who have a much higher than average potential for suicidal ideation. They are walking a path that none of them have chosen. Our daughter is not a felon. She is the kind of parent any struggling child would be lucky to have as a mom.

Their journey began early and started with years of therapy, counseling and consultation with physicians. While legislators have said that they “have heard” that hormone blockers are being handed out on request, it’s simply not true. As with any other medical intervention, maybe even more so because of the delicacy surrounding this issue, these kids are treated with great care and consideration.

I know that people are concerned about gender reassignment surgery, though by all accounts it is not being done in Idaho. Had a standalone bill preventing surgery been passed, that would have been different. The Senate had the opportunity to amend the bill accordingly but declined. So now, life-saving hormone treatments are criminalized. We have seen in recent weeks news of physicians either leaving or refusing to come to Idaho.

These decisions only make that bad situation worse.

Like any other medical practice, Idaho has in place a Board of Medicine to address any complaints or malpractice. Imposing felony charges on parents who are just trying to help their kids live an authentic life, and to literally keep them alive, is excessive and cruel. It’s a complicated experience to understand unless your family has walked this path.

So Governor, as you consider this bill, please remember, there but for the grace of God go I.

Maryanne Jordan is a former Boise City Council member, Democratic state legislator and formerly a community member on the Idaho Statesman editorial board.