Supreme Court Allows Texas Law Restricting Gender-Affirming Care for Minors to Take Effect

Texas’ Supreme Court refused to reinstate a district court judge’s stay on the law

Background

CNN —

Texas’ Supreme Court on Thursday allowed a new law that prohibits most gender-affirming care procedures for minors in the state to take effect Friday, refusing to reinstate a district court judge’s stay on the law.

The Scope of the Law

The law, known as Senate Bill 14, prohibits most minors from receiving treatment common for gender dysphoria, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Exceptions are provided for intersex patients and for some minors who were already receiving gender-affirming care before the law was passed, although those minors would be forced to “wean off” any drugs prescribed as part of a treatment plan.

Texas Supreme Court’s Decision

The decision by the Texas high court did not address the arguments for the temporary injunction sought until the court could hear the case, but simply denied the motion for temporary relief.

Reactions to the Decision

• CNN has reached out to GLMA, an LGBTQ health advocacy group and one of the parties that filed suit, for comment on the decision.
• The ACLU of Texas slammed the high court’s decision Thursday, calling the ban an “unjust” law.
• “Let’s be clear: Trans youth are loved and belong in Texas,” the organization said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We won’t stop until this cruel ban is struck down.”

This story is breaking and will be updated.