NE Atlanta News

David Clark, a state representative for Georgia House District 100, said that Democrats avoided a vote on taxpayer funding for gender transition procedures, while Republicans unanimously opposed it. The statement was made on the social media platform X on April 2.

"Make no mistake—Georgia House Democrats fully support using taxpayer dollars to fund sex changes for state prisoners," said Rep. David Clark. "They fled the vote like spineless opportunists, dodging accountability at every turn. Republicans stood strong, voting unanimously to protect taxpayer money and uphold common sense fiduciary responsibility. Democrats play political games, while Republicans deliver on their promises to the people."

According to preliminary data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the U.S. state and federal prison population increased by 2% in 2023, reaching approximately 1,230,100 inmates. This marks the second consecutive year of growth following a significant decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report notes that state prisons held about 89% of all sentenced prisoners at year-end 2023.

Corrections1 reported that in 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest supporting a Georgia inmate’s request for state-funded gender-affirming surgery. The filing argued that denying such medical care may violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. This marked the first time the federal government backed a legal effort for gender surgery in a state prison.

According to the Williams Institute, approximately 1.6 million people in the United States identify as transgender, including about 1.3 million adults and 300,000 youth. The data indicates that transgender individuals are represented across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The institute also notes that transgender adults are more likely to experience economic instability and discrimination, including within institutional settings such as prisons.

Clark is a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing District 100 since January 2023. He is a U.S. Army combat veteran who served in Afghanistan and owns a nutraceutical distribution company. Clark resides in Buford, Georgia, with his family.