JEFFERSON CITY, MO. — A Missouri judge ruled late last week the state’s ban on gender-affirming surgeries and medications for transgender minors is constitutional, intensifying debates over LGBTQ+ rights and access to healthcare, wrote Associated Press.
The law, championed by Attorney General Andrew Bailey, prohibits minors from accessing puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries. Bailey called the decision a significant victory, stating it protects children from “experimental procedures” that lack long-term safety data, said AP.
The ruling has drawn sharp criticism from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and families of transgender youth.
Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Missouri denounced the decision in a joint statement, asserting, AP reported, “This law denies transgender youth medically necessary care, deepening stigma and harm. We will continue to fight for these families in higher courts.”
Medical experts widely dispute claims that gender-affirming care is experimental, said AP, noting the American Academy of Pediatrics supports such treatments as “evidence-based and medically necessary,” citing research that shows significant mental health benefits for transgender youth.
And, AP added, advocates warn the Missouri ruling could embolden similar legislation nationwide, with legal challenges already underway in states like Arkansas and Tennessee.
“This decision prioritizes politics over science,” said Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “It undermines the rights of vulnerable youth and sets a troubling precedent.”
The case is expected to be appealed, with advocates pledging to challenge what they describe as a violation of constitutional rights, according to AP.
As the broader legal battle unfolds, the Missouri ruling highlights a growing cultural and legal divide over LGBTQ+ protections, with significant implications for the future of healthcare access and equality in the U.S., AP wrote.
