A Missouri court recently upheld a state law banning certain gender-affirming healthcare for minors, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal battles over such bans across the U.S. The ruling represents a victory for supporters of the law, with Missouri becoming the first state to successfully defend such a ban at the trial court level.
Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey praised the ruling, stating that it sheds light on the lack of evidence supporting gender-affirming procedures for minors and reaffirming Missouri’s commitment to being a “safe” state for children.
The law prohibits gender-affirming surgeries and restricts access to hormones and puberty blockers for minors who had not begun treatment before August 2023. While most adults can still access these treatments, they are not covered by Medicaid in Missouri. The law expires in August 2027.
Opponents of the law, including Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Missouri, plan to appeal, arguing that the ruling ignores medical evidence and discriminates against transgender minors by denying them necessary care that other children can access.
The American Medical Association and other major medical organizations oppose such bans, emphasizing that gender-affirming care is evidence-based and can be critical for the well-being of transgender youth.
The legal landscape regarding gender-affirming care for minors is evolving, with several states adopting similar bans, while federal courts have blocked or stayed similar laws in places like Arkansas and Florida.
Missouri is now part of a growing list of states with laws restricting gender-affirming care for transgender minors, joining others like Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas, among many others.