Pharmaceutical executive Vivek Ramaswamy said during the second Republican Party primary debate on Wednesday night at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, that transgenderism in minors was a mental health issue and that it was cruel to push that ideology onto children.

Ramaswamy was asked by co-host Dana Perino about whether he would sign a bill into law that protected parental rights so that schools cannot hide information from parents about their child’s identity.

“I have to be very clear about this, transgenderism, especially in kids, is a mental health disorder,” he said. “We have to acknowledge the truth of that for what it is.”

“Parents have the right to know. And you know what the hypocrisy of this is, even New Hampshire failed to actually get passed a piece of legislation here,” he continued. “The very people who say that this increases the risk of suicide are also the ones saying that parents don’t have the right to know about that increased risk of suicide. And I’m sorry, it is not compassionate, to affirm a kid’s confusion. That is not compassion. That is cruelty. I met two young women, Chloe and Katie, early in this campaign, who are in their 20s, now regret getting double mastectomies and a hysterectomy. One of them will never have children. And the fact that we allowed that to happen in this country is barbaric. So I will ban genital mutilation or chemical castration under the age of 18.”

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He said that he would try to pass a law protecting parental rights — a policy position similar to the other Republican presidential candidates.

WATCH:

More than 50% of kids with gender dysphoria have considered suicide. And yet politicians reject a law that would require schools to inform parents if their kids change their gender identity at school. Parents have a right to know about their kids: that shouldn’t be controversial.… pic.twitter.com/AzvT2Pq8Om

— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) September 28, 2023