Oklahoma governor signs law banning transgender treatment for minors

Oklahoma Republican Governor Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law that makes it a felony for healthcare workers to provide "gender affirmation" treatment to minors.

Since Stitt was re-elected in November, he made it clear that child protection would be one of his priorities. Last year he signed bills to ban transgender people from playing on sports teams that do not match their biological sex and from using school bathrooms that do not match their biological sex. However, this year he decided to go further and insisted on a ban on irreversible gender transition surgeries, as well as on hormonal therapies that affect the development of minors.

"We cannot turn a blind eye to what's happening across our nation, and as governor, I am proud to stand up for what's right and ban life-altering transition surgeries on children in the state of Oklahoma," he said after signing the bill.

The ban will take effect immediately under an emergency clause, making Oklahoma one of 16 states that have enacted laws restricting or banning these types of treatments on minors.

Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, South Dakota, South Dakota and West Virginia are the other states in the country with similar initiatives. However, it is worth noting that federal judges have blocked the application of this type of law in Alabama and Arkansas.

In addition, nearly two dozen states are considering similar legislative options, and states such as Florida, Missouri and Texas have created restrictions through regulations or administrative orders.