States Enact Laws Targeting Trans Youth.

More than 20 Republican-led states have passed laws regulating the lives of transgender children and adolescents since the start of 2021. This includes restrictions on gender-affirming medical care, bathroom access, and sports participation for transgender youth. This year alone, 16 states have enacted bans or significant new restrictions on some or all gender-affirming care for minors, most ending the use of cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers. Bills barring young transgender people from competing on sports teams that match their gender identity have also been passed in more than 20 states. Critics say these laws infringe on the rights of adolescents and parents, legislate decisions that should be left to doctors and families, and will have mental health ramifications for trans teens.