AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Supreme Court just upheld a ban on transition-related care for minors. The state law prohibits doctors from prescribing gender-affirming care to transgender children.
The Texas Supreme Court opinion was approved by eight of the nine Republican justices. The ruling sets aside the Travis County District Court injunction on Senate Bill 14 that led to this test of the law’s constitutionality. It prohibits doctors from prescribing puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy for preteens and teenagers.
“Children don’t have the ability to appreciate the risk of some of the decisions that they might make,” said Jonathan Covey with Texas Values.
Covey says about 24 other states have passed similar laws. Despite numerous protests at the Texas State Capitol, the conservative advocacy group says if the state can’t get involved in these circumstances it can’t legitimately get involved in any family issues.
“Parents have a fundamental right to raise their children as they see fit. That’s a sacred right, however, it isn’t without limits. The state has the ability to protect children in situations that will clearly jeopardize their health and safety,” said Covey.
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Friday’s ruling is no surprise to many of those who fought the legislation to ban transition-related care for minors.
“We’re very disappointed, obviously, because it allows the harm and the suffering that this ban has caused to continue across the state,” said Ash Hall with the ACLU of Texas.
Hall says the ACLU of Texas will not back down until trans youth and their families are no longer under attack by state lawmakers and can get the health care they deserve.
“Families are still going to have to make really hard decisions about either trying to get healthcare for their children elsewhere or moving out of the state,” said Hall.
Friday’s decision impacts Texas, but a similar Tennessee law is set to be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. That decision will have a nationwide impact and is expected to be returned by this time next summer.