Detransitioner Chloe Cole Testifies on Fink Bill HB2085

PHOENIX—Renowned de-transitioner and anti- “gender-affirming-care” advocate Chloe Cole spoke at an Arizona House of Representatives hearing on House Bill HB2085 on Thursday, January 22, 2026. By her count, Cole has been to at least 40 states to speak on gender transition-related topics, adding Arizona to the growing list.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Fink (R-27), bans doctors and other healthcare professionals from providing gender transition procedures, including surgeries like mastectomies and penectomies, as well as prescribing puberty-blocking pharmaceuticals to gender dysphoric children in Arizona. The bill provides specific exemptions for children needing those types of drugs or procedures for medically verifiable sex development disorders or illnesses like cancer.

“I’ve been keeping an eye on Arizona for a few years now,” said Cole, a 21-year-old Californian who began taking puberty blockers and testosterone at age 13. At 15, she had both breasts removed in her quest to “become a man” before publicly backtracking in her later teens.

“This bill is important for the future of Arizona children, because as long as they can have their puberty permanently stopped and be subjected to chemical castration, no child in this state will ever be safe,” she stated.

During the hearing, Cole testified about her experience with “gender affirming care” to the committee, calling herself “living proof” of its harmful and lasting side effects on developing bodies.

“I went into menopause before I graduated from middle school,” she told the House Health & Human Services committee. “I’ve been left with serious quality of life issues having to do with my joints, my bladder, pelvic pain and almost absent menses, leading me to question whether I’m going to be able to have kids now that I’m an adult woman.”

Fink, a Glendale resident and mother, found Cole’s testimony compelling.

“I just want to help these kids [with gender dysphoria],” she said. “And the one cure for gender dysphoria is just to go through puberty, therefore not eliminating healthy body parts and sterilizing and creating chronic conditions throughout the rest of their lives.”

HB2085, which passed the committee 7-5 along party lines, will next go to the Rules Committee on Monday, February 2. It holds the potential to eventually be signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat.

“I think this is going to be one of the most important bills on Hobbs’ desk,” Cole added. “Because ‘gender affirmative care’ isn’t something that helps children be aligned with who they truly are, and they deserve adults and doctors around them who will affirm reality.”