Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signs order to allow state employee health coverage for gender-transition surgeries

Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed an executive order to nix a ban on coverage of gender-transition surgery for state employees, a move that means state workers' healthcare plans will no longer be barred from covering the controversial procedures.

"The Department of Administration shall remove the Exclusion from the State's healthcare plan as soon as practicable and in compliance with State law," the order declares. The order says that "since 2017, the Plan has excluded coverage for 'gender reassignment surgery.'"

"Our LGBTQ+ community should never have to face hate and discrimination, and I will do everything in my power to fight for full equality," Hobbs said, according to a press release. "The State is leading by example on this issue, and we will continue working until Arizona is a place where every individual can participate equally in our economy and our workforce without fear of discrimination or exclusion."

Hobbs has also signed an executive order that declares, "To the greatest extent permissible under law, State Agencies shall not use State or federal resources to promote, support, or enable any practice or treatment on minors known to be a form of 'conversion therapy,' including authorizing funds to reimburse for medical or mental healthcare known to be in connection with the practice of 'conversion therapy' on minors."

"State Agencies shall develop and implement policies, as necessary and consistent with State and federal law, to protect LGBTQ+ minors from harmful medical and mental healthcare services related to 'conversion therapy,'" the order reads.

Hobbs, who previously served as Arizona's secretary of state, defeated Republican candidate Kari Lake in the state's 2022 gubernatorial contest.

But Lake, who had been backed by former President Donald Trump, maintains that she actually won and should be the state's current governor. "I am the lawful governor of Arizona," she wrote in her book, "Unafraid," according to the Daily Mail. "The current occupant of the governor's office is just a squatter."

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