Chris Christie opposes trans surgery ban for minors

Republican presidential candidate and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie voiced opposition to banning gender-related treatments for minors over the weekend.

Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, Christie expressed his opinion that to ban such surgeries and treatments would be to wrongly usurp the role of the parent in determining the best medical course of action for their children.

"I don't think that the government should ever be stepping in to the place of the parents in helping to move their children through a process where those children are confused or concerned about their gender," he said in response to the network's Jake Tapper. "The fact is that folks who are under the age of 18 should have parental support, and guidance, and love as they make all the key decisions of their life, and this should not be one that excluded by the government in any way."

Christie's stance comes in contrast to that of most of the Republican base, and much of the general public. Polling data has increasingly shown Americans to be moving against the transgender movement as a whole. 55% of Americans in a June Gallup poll said that changing one's gender was "morally wrong."

At least 20 states have either restricted or banned transgender procedures for minors, including most of the solidly conservative, Republican-leaning bastions.

The former New Jersey governor has struggled to gain traction among the Republican electorate since declaring his campaign in June. He currently polls at an average 2.3%, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.