Texas is set to implement a law that prohibits the use of gender-transition drugs and surgeries for children, despite a state judge’s order blocking the measure from being enforced. The law, known as Senate Bill 14, was temporarily blocked by Travis County Judge Maria Cantú Hexsel, who stated that it interferes with Texas families’ private decisions. However, the Office of the Attorney General immediately filed an appeal, which puts the injunction on hold pending a decision by the Texas Supreme Court. The law is scheduled to take effect on September 1.
The Texas Attorney General’s office expressed its commitment to enforcing the law, stating that it aims to protect children from potentially harmful “gender transition” interventions. Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 14 into law on June 2, making Texas one of 22 states that have banned or restricted gender-transition procedures for minors.
The law has faced legal challenges, with five families, three medical providers, and two LGBTQ organizations filing a complaint against it. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas celebrated a Texas district court’s ruling in favor of trans youth, asserting that everyone should have the right to receive life-saving medical care without going to court. They vowed to continue fighting until the ban is permanently struck down.
On the other side, Jonathan Covey, Texas Values director of policy, praised the Texas Attorney General’s office for challenging the ruling, stating that the law will prevent harmful procedures that lead to the mutilation of children’s bodies. A court hearing on the case’s merits is scheduled for May 6, 2024.
According to the attorney general’s office, the law prohibits hospitals from administering experimental hormones or performing “gender transition” surgical procedures on minors. They argue that these interventions lack evidence of medical benefit and may have harmful effects on children’s mental and physical well-being.
One of the teen plaintiffs, using the pseudonym Nathan Noe, shared that taking testosterone has greatly improved their life. They expressed their love for Texas and their desire not to leave their community, despite the government’s decision to target people like them.
Overall, Texas is moving forward with the implementation of the ban on gender-transition drugs for minors, despite legal challenges and a temporary injunction. The law aims to protect children and limit potentially harmful medical interventions, while critics argue that it infringes on families’ private decisions and denies necessary medical care to transgender youth.
