Medical and parent group sues Texas for banning transgender treatment for minors

Doctors and families with transgender children filed a lawsuit to block a new Texas law that seeks to ban minors from undergoing gender-affirming treatment.

The challenge to the legislation, which will go into effect on September 1, was filed in state court with arguments similar to those that have already blocked or stopped similar laws in states such as Florida, Arkansas and Tennessee.

According to the plaintiffs, the law violates parental rights by preventing them from providing medical care to their children. In addition, physicians claim that this legislation would interfere with their licensure.

"Texas is endangering the health and wellbeing of transgender adolescents and violating the Texas Constitution's guarantees of equality under the law by enacting a discriminatory and categorical prohibition on medical treatments for transgender youth that remain available to others," indicates the lawsuit seeking a temporary injunction to stop enforcement of the law while the case goes to trial.

However, state representatives who approved the bill have highlighted the risks faced by minors who are exposed to transition treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapies and genital mutilation surgeries.

"The science on gender dysphoria lacks sufficient high-quality evidence documented, and there’s a growing list of harms, established side effects that accompany patients," said Republican state Rep. Tom Oliverson.

Europe rethinks its trans policies

Even countries that were once considered pioneers in transgender treatment are now rethinking their policies for minors due to the number of medical reports warning against these procedures. Finland, England, Sweden and even Norway have reversed course and now ban hormone-based gender affirmation therapies.