A Tennessee law that bans gender-affirming care, including hormone therapies, puberty blockers and gender-affirming surgery on minors will be allowed to go into effect following an appeals court ruling to reinstate the law.
On June 28, federal judges had blocked the law from going into effect after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) became involved in the case, stating that bans on the procedures interfered with a parent’s rights to pursue necessary medical assistance for their children.
Two of the three judges on the appeals panel ruled to reinstate the law, saying that decisions over transgender care are better left up to state legislatures rather than judges.
The ruling is preliminary, and remains in force only until the appeals court conducts a full review of the appeal.
From the ruling:
At least 20 states across the country have recently enacted bans or restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors. Federal judges in Indiana and Kentucky have blocked the laws from taking effect, and in Arkansas a judge struck the law down.
Gender-affirming care like hormone therapy and puberty blockers are generally considered safe and have been endorsed by major medical groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the Endocrine Society.