Austin: The Texas Supreme Court State ban upheld Gender-affirming care for minors on Friday, rejecting parents’ plea that it infringed on their right medical care For their transgender children. All Republican court rulings put a law in place that takes effect Sept. 1, 2023. Texas is the largest of at least 25 states that have adopted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care. Transgender minors,

Most of these states are facing lawsuits, and the US Supreme Court recently agreed to hear an appeal from the Biden administration, which is attempting to stop it State restrictions On gender-affirming care. The case before the high court concerns a Tennessee law that prohibits puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors, similar to a Texas law.

The Texas law prevents transgender minors from accessing hormone therapy, puberty blockers and transition surgery, even though medical experts say such surgical procedures are rarely performed on children. Children who had already begun taking the banned drugs had to stop in a “medically appropriate” way.

“We conclude that the Legislature made an acceptable, rational policy choice in limiting the types of medical procedures available to children, particularly in light of the relative novelty of both.” Gender Dysphoria “The constitutional right of the Legislature to regulate different systems of medicine and methods of treatment and the practice of medicine shall not be infringed,” the ruling said.

The lawsuit challenging the Texas law argued that it would have devastating consequences for transgender teens, who would be unable to receive crucial treatments recommended by their doctors and parents.

The law was ruled unconstitutional by a lower court, but it was allowed to remain in effect while the state Supreme Court considered the case.

Restrictions on health care are part of a broader backlash against human rights. Transgender rightsThis includes everything from access to toilets to participation in sports.

As more states move to implement it Health care restrictionsFamilies of transgender youth are being forced to travel out of state to get the care they need at clinics with growing wait lists. At least 13 states have laws protecting the care of transgender minors.

More than 89,000 transgender people ages 13 to 17 live in states that limit their access to gender-affirming care, though not all trans people choose or can afford gender-affirming care, according to a research paper published in July 2023 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Gender-affirming care for youth is supported by major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Endocrine Society.

Medical professionals define gender dysphoria as psychological distress experienced by people whose gender expression does not match their gender identity. Opponents of gender-affirming care say there is no solid evidence of the alleged benefits and say children should not have to make life-changing decisions they may later regret.

Texas officials defended the law, saying it was necessary to protect children, and pointed to numerous other restrictions for minors on tattoos, alcohol, tobacco and some over-the-counter drugs.

Several doctors who treat transgender children testified at the lower court hearing that if patients are denied safe and effective treatment, they risk having their mental health deteriorate, possibly leading to suicide.

The Texas ban was signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who was the first governor to order investigations into families of transgender minors receiving gender-affirming care

During legislative debate on the 2023 ban, transgender rights activists disrupted the Texas House by protesting from the chamber gallery, leading state police to force the demonstrators out of the building. (AP) PY PY