Texas governor outlaws gender-transition healthcare for minors.

Texas Bans Gender-Transition Healthcare for Children

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a bill into law on Friday, banning gender-transition healthcare for children.

This new law, effective from September 1, prohibits healthcare providers in Texas from performing surgeries related to gender transition on children. Additionally, healthcare providers are not allowed to prescribe hormones or puberty blockers to children under this law. Violators of this law could have their medical license revoked.

Exceptions to the Law

The law provides several exceptions to children already undergoing gender transition, such as those currently receiving hormones or puberty blockers and children who have attended 12 or more sessions of mental health counseling over a period of at least six months before they began treatment. However, the law requires that these children are slowly taken off them “in a manner that is safe and medically appropriate.”

ACLU to File Lawsuit

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has issued a statement on May 18 that it would file a lawsuit over this law. The organization claimed that Texas lawmakers “are hellbent on joining the growing roster of states determined to jeopardize the health and lives of transgender youth, in direct opposition to the overwhelming body of scientific and medical evidence supporting this care as appropriate and necessary. Transgender youth in Texas deserve the support and care necessary to give them the same chance to thrive as their peers.”

Republican States Limiting Gender Transition Procedures

The new law comes as Republican lawmakers across the country are attempting to limit gender transition procedures for children in multiple different states. Last month, Nebraska joined the growing number of Republican states that have banned transition surgeries for children. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) also passed an abortion ban prohibiting abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy. While the abortion ban went into effect immediately with Pillen’s signature, the transition ban will go into effect on Oct. 1.

Praise for Texas’s New Law

Former Rep. Mayra Flores (R-TX) praised Texas’s new law on Saturday morning.

Conclusion

While the new law has sparked controversy, it remains to be seen how it will be implemented and enforced.