Texas and Missouri Judges Rule on Controversial Bans on Transition-Related Medical Care for Minors

A Texas judge has blocked a state law that would have banned transition-related medical care for minors, while a Missouri judge ruled that a similar ban in that state can take effect on Monday.

The Texas law was challenged by a group of families and doctors, who argued that it would violate parents’ rights and have devastating consequences for transgender children and teens who would be denied treatment recommended by their physicians and parents.

The ruling in Missouri means that health care providers are prohibited from providing gender-affirming surgeries to minors, with the exception of those who began puberty blockers or hormones before Monday. The law also affects adults, as Medicaid no longer covers treatments for them and the state will not provide those surgeries to prisoners.

Physicians who violate the law face having their licenses revoked and being sued by patients. The law has been met with strong opposition from civil rights groups, who argue that it will cause irreparable harm to transgender people.

The legal fight over efforts by conservatives to restrict transition-related medical care is ongoing, with similar bans being challenged in other states. Supporters of the bans argue that they are necessary to protect children from making irreversible decisions.