The Texas Supreme Court has greenlit a new law banning gender-affirming care for minors. The law will take effect on Friday (September 1st) and will make Texas the most populous US state to impose such restrictions on transgender children.

Activists and legal advocates have labelled the new law and the court's decision 'cruel',&nbsp;however, conservative groups have welcomed it and say 'kids are safer today'.

<h2>What the law bans</h2>

As per a report by news agency AP, the Texas law would prevent transgender minors from accessing treatments such as hormone therapies, puberty blockers, and transition surgeries.

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The report states that medical experts have long said that such surgical procedures are rarely performed on children.&nbsp;

It also stipulates that children who were already undergoing the prohibited medications and treatments are required to be weaned off "the prescription drug over a period of time and in a manner that is safe and medically appropriate."

<h2>'Cruel' decision or not</h2>

Advocacy groups fighting for gender-affirming care in the state on Thursday called the court's decision and the law "cruel" and said that "the fight is far from over."

"Transgender youth and their families are forced to confront the start of the school year, fearful of what awaits them. But let us be clear: The fight is far from over," they said in a joint statement.

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On the other hand, Jonathan Covey, policy director of Texas Values, a conservative group that supported the law, hailed the decision and said: "Texas kids are safer today because of the Supreme Court ruling."

"Protecting children from harmful and dangerous gender transition surgeries and puberty blockers is in the best interests of the child and something we all agree on," added Covey.

<h2>From June, till now</h2>

The ban was signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott on 2 June&nbsp;2023. The law which bans medical professionals from prescribing hormone blockers or performing gender-transitioning surgeries on anyone under 18 years old was set to come into effect on September 1.

However, legal advocates of gender-affirming care, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, had filed a lawsuit opposing the ban.

Last week, a state district judge ruled that the pending law infringes upon the rights of transgender minors and their families to access appropriate medical care.&nbsp;

The judge also noted that the law violated doctors' ability to follow "well-established, evidence-based" medical guidelines without risking the loss of their medical licences.

Subsequently, the judge issued a temporary injunction to halt the law's implementation, prompting state officials to&nbsp;appeal the decision to the state's highest court.

<h2>Texas Supreme Court ruling</h2>

The Texas Supreme Court, which, as per AP, is composed entirely of Republican judges, lifted the injunction and allowed the law to take effect as scheduled. They did this without providing an explanation for the decision.&nbsp;

However, their action did not address the lower court's assertion of the law's unconstitutionality, and a full hearing on the matter is expected.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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The Texas Supreme Court has greenlit a new law banning gender-affirming care for minors. The law will take effect on Friday (September 1st) and will make Texas the most populous US state to impose such restrictions on transgender children.

The Texas Supreme Court has greenlit a new law banning gender-affirming care for minors. The law will take effect on Friday (September 1st) and will make Texas the most populous US state to impose such restrictions on transgender children. Activists and legal advocates have labelled the new law and the court's decision 'cruel', however, conservative groups have welcomed it and say 'kids are safer today'. What the law bans As per a report by news agency AP, the Texas law would prevent transgender minors from accessing treatments such as hormone therapies, puberty blockers, and transition surgeries. Also read | Canada issues travel advisory to LGBTQI+ citizens visiting US, cites new laws, policies The report states that medical experts have long said that such surgical procedures are rarely performed on children. It also stipulates that children who were already undergoing the prohibited medications and treatments are required to be weaned off "the prescription drug over a period of time and in a manner that is safe and medically appropriate." 'Cruel' decision or not Advocacy groups fighting for gender-affirming care in the state on Thursday called the court's decision and the law "cruel" and said that "the fight is far from over." "Transgender youth and their families are forced to confront the start of the school year, fearful of what awaits them. But let us be clear: The fight is far from over," they said in a joint statement. Also read | Progressive or regressive: Was 2022 a good year for the LGBTQIA+ community? Here's the year in review On the other hand, Jonathan Covey, policy director of Texas Values, a conservative group that supported the law, hailed the decision and said: "Texas kids are safer today because of the Supreme Court ruling." "Protecting children from harmful and dangerous gender transition surgeries and puberty blockers is in the best interests of the child and something we all agree on," added Covey. From June, till now The ban was signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott on 2 June 2023. The law which bans medical professionals from prescribing hormone blockers or performing gender-transitioning surgeries on anyone under 18 years old was set to come into effect on September 1. However, legal advocates of gender-affirming care, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, had filed a lawsuit opposing the ban. Last week, a state district judge ruled that the pending law infringes upon the rights of transgender minors and their families to access appropriate medical care. The judge also noted that the law violated doctors' ability to follow "well-established, evidence-based" medical guidelines without risking the loss of their medical licences. Subsequently, the judge issued a temporary injunction to halt the law's implementation, prompting state officials to appeal the decision to the state's highest court. Texas Supreme Court ruling The Texas Supreme Court, which, as per AP, is composed entirely of Republican judges, lifted the injunction and allowed the law to take effect as scheduled. They did this without providing an explanation for the decision. However, their action did not address the lower court's assertion of the law's unconstitutionality, and a full hearing on the matter is expected. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Texas SC greenlights law banning gender-affirming healthcare for trans minors

In a significant legal victory for transgender rights, US District Judge Robert Hinkle on Wednesday (June 21) struck down a Florida rule and statute that prohibited state Medicaid payments for transgender healthcare. This marks the second defeat in two weeks for anti-transgender legislation in Florida.&nbsp;

<h2>What the judge said</h2>

Judge Hinkle declared the state's practices invalid, stating that they violated the constitutional right to equal protection under the 14th Amendment, as well as the federal Medicaid statute and the Affordable Care Act's prohibition of sex discrimination.

The ruling, as per Reuters, was not unexpected. Judge Hinkle had already issued a partial block on Florida's ban on gender-affirming care for individuals under 18 on June 6.&nbsp;

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In his 54-page ruling, Judge Hinkle emphasised the reality of gender identity. He said that those who oppose transgender existence "tend to disapprove all things transgender and so oppose medical care that supports a person's transgender existence."

He also noted that gender identity is a real aspect of a person's life.

"The elephant in the room should be noted at the outset. Gender identity is real. The record makes this clear," he wrote in his ruling.

<h2>Anti-trans laws and the United States</h2>

Similar laws banning gender-affirming care have been blocked by district court judges in other states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, and Oklahoma.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, Republican lawmakers have however introduced over 500 bills restricting LGBTQ rights during the past legislative year, with more than 70 of them passing into law.&nbsp;

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So far, 20 states have enacted laws banning gender-affirming care for minors. The sponsors of these laws claim that they aim to protect children who may be misled by parents and doctors and later regret their gender transition.

<h2>Who was behind the lawsuit?</h2>

The plaintiffs in the case included two transgender adults, August Dekker and Brit Rothstein, as well as two transgender minors who filed under pseudonyms.&nbsp;

On the opposing side was the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and its secretary, Jason Weida.

<h2>What is Medicaid?</h2>

Medicaid, as per the US Department of Health and Human Services, &nbsp;is a joint federal and state programme that helps cover medical costs for some people with limited income and resources.

The AHCA had initially approved Medicaid payments for gender-affirming care, but in 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the agency to conduct a new analysis, which led to a reversal of the decision.&nbsp;

Judge Henkin found that the subsequent process was biased and aimed at justifying a predetermined outcome, rather than conducting a fair analysis of the evidence.&nbsp;As per him, the AHCA "retained only consultants known in advance for their staunch opposition to gender-affirming care."&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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In a significant legal victory for transgender rights, US District Judge Robert Hinkle on Wednesday (June 21) struck down a Florida rule and statute that prohibited state Medicaid payments for transgender healthcare.

In a significant legal victory for transgender rights, US District Judge Robert Hinkle on Wednesday (June 21) struck down a Florida rule and statute that prohibited state Medicaid payments for transgender healthcare. This marks the second defeat in two weeks for anti-transgender legislation in Florida. What the judge said Judge Hinkle declared the state's practices invalid, stating that they violated the constitutional right to equal protection under the 14th Amendment, as well as the federal Medicaid statute and the Affordable Care Act's prohibition of sex discrimination. The ruling, as per Reuters, was not unexpected. Judge Hinkle had already issued a partial block on Florida's ban on gender-affirming care for individuals under 18 on June 6. Also read | 'Gender identity is real': Judge temporarily halts Florida law banning gender-affirming care for trans kids In his 54-page ruling, Judge Hinkle emphasised the reality of gender identity. He said that those who oppose transgender existence "tend to disapprove all things transgender and so oppose medical care that supports a person's transgender existence." He also noted that gender identity is a real aspect of a person's life. "The elephant in the room should be noted at the outset. Gender identity is real. The record makes this clear," he wrote in his ruling. Anti-trans laws and the United States Similar laws banning gender-affirming care have been blocked by district court judges in other states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, and Oklahoma. According to the Human Rights Campaign, Republican lawmakers have however introduced over 500 bills restricting LGBTQ rights during the past legislative year, with more than 70 of them passing into law. Also read | Also read | Elon Musk's tweet on #WhatIsAWoman fans Twitter buzz. Here's all you need to know So far, 20 states have enacted laws banning gender-affirming care for minors. The sponsors of these laws claim that they aim to protect children who may be misled by parents and doctors and later regret their gender transition. Who was behind the lawsuit? The plaintiffs in the case included two transgender adults, August Dekker and Brit Rothstein, as well as two transgender minors who filed under pseudonyms. On the opposing side was the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and its secretary, Jason Weida. What is Medicaid? Medicaid, as per the US Department of Health and Human Services, is a joint federal and state programme that helps cover medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. The AHCA had initially approved Medicaid payments for gender-affirming care, but in 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the agency to conduct a new analysis, which led to a reversal of the decision. Judge Henkin found that the subsequent process was biased and aimed at justifying a predetermined outcome, rather than conducting a fair analysis of the evidence. As per him, the AHCA "retained only consultants known in advance for their staunch opposition to gender-affirming care." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Federal judge upholds transgender rights, strikes down Florida's Medicaid ban on healthcare

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Texas SC greenlights law banning gender-affirming healthcare for trans minors

Federal judge upholds transgender rights, strikes down Florida's Medicaid ban on healthcare