Southern Illinois News

Blaine Wilhour, a House Representative from Illinois, has expressed opposition to gender-related medical procedures for minors and is calling for congressional action following a recent Supreme Court ruling. The statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Pritzker calls it “dignity," said Blaine Jacob Wilhour, State Representative from Illinois. "But drugging kids and mutilating their bodies isn't dignity—it's abuse. It scars them for life. Thankfully, the Supreme Court slammed the brakes on this grotesque practice today. Now it's time for Congress to finish the job—defund this horror."

The Supreme Court ruled on June 18, 2025, to uphold Tennessee’s ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender minors. This decision supports similar laws in over 25 states and has led to a new wave of legislative proposals aimed at restricting gender-related care for minors, according to AP News.

According to the Williams Institute, approximately 300,000 transgender youth aged 13–17 reside in the United States. Of these, around 118,000 are now affected by laws banning gender-affirming medical care, with 26 states enforcing such bans following the Supreme Court's decision.

Equality Maps reports that Illinois remains one of the states guaranteeing legal access to gender-affirming healthcare for minors. It continues to provide Medicaid coverage for such services despite shifts in national legal standards.

Ballotpedia notes that Wilhour has served Illinois House District 110 since 2019. He has sponsored youth sports and mental health bills while voting against state protections for gender-affirming care, emphasizing parental rights and traditional health standards.