Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors|Utah Reps|CC BY-SA 4.0
Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill over the weekend, making Utah the first state in 2023 to ban gender-affirming care for trans children under the age of 18.
The bill
Senate Bill 16 (SB 16) prevents trans youth in Utah to have surgery or hormone replacement aiding in gender change.
The bill asks the Department of Health and Human Services to perform, “a systematic review of the medical evidence regarding hormonal transgender treatments,” and “provide recommendations to the Legislature.”
Just the beginning
Lawmakers in at least 18 states are considering similar bills targeting health care for young transgender people.
More than 150 bills in at least 25 states have already been proposed this year by Republican lawmakers, restricting the rights of transgender people.
With the signing of SB 16, Utah is the latest to join the four other states that have banned transition care for transgender youth. Other states include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona and Tennessee.
While states attempt to restrict gender-affirming care, several medical associations argue that these treatments and procedures are clinically safe and life-changing for minors.