Federal Court Upholds Alabama's Ban on Transgender Care for Minors

A federal appeals court has ruled that Alabama can enforce a ban on the use of puberty blockers and hormones to treat transgender children, marking a victory for gender-affirming care restrictions adopted by Republican-led states. The court vacated a judge's temporary injunction against enforcing the law, allowing the state to safeguard the physical and psychological well-being of minors. The decision leaves families of transgender children scrambling for care, with the ban threatening doctors with prison time. Advocacy groups and major medical organizations oppose the bans, arguing that treatments are safe if properly administered. Similar bans have been struck down or temporarily blocked in other states, but more GOP-led states are poised to enact similar restrictions.