Missouri Judge Allows Ban on Gender-Affirming Health Care for Minors

A Missouri judge has ruled that a law banning gender-affirming treatments for minors can take effect, starting Monday. The law prohibits health care providers from offering gender-affirming surgeries to children, and minors who have not started puberty will no longer have access to puberty blockers. The ACLU, Lambda Legal, and other organizations have sued to overturn the law, arguing that it is discriminatory. Proponents of the law claim that gender-affirming treatments are unsafe and untested, while major medical organizations in the US oppose bans on gender-affirming care for minors. Lawsuits have been filed in several states with similar bans.