Utah’s Gender-Affirming Care Ban Faces New Scrutiny After Study Finds Positive Outcomes
SALT LAKE CITY — A recent study commissioned by Utah’s Department of Health and Human Services challenges the rationale behind the state’s ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors, enacted by Republicans in 2023. The report, which analyzed the experiences of thousands of transgender individuals, concluded that gender-affirming care results in "positive mental health and psychosocial functioning outcomes," countering claims of potential long-term harm.
Initially intended as a temporary measure, the ban prohibits access to hormone treatments and surgeries for minors. However, the findings indicate that policies preventing such care cannot be substantiated by scientific evidence. The study emphasized the significance of gender-affirming treatment in reducing suicide risks among transgender youth.
While some Utah Republican lawmakers, including Senate President Stuart Adams, expressed openness to reconsidering the ban, others dismissed the study’s implications. House sponsors of the legislation reiterated their stance, arguing that minors should not make "life-altering medical decisions" based on unclear evidence. Polls suggest that these restrictions have political resonance among voters.
Experts note that all major U.S. medical organizations support gender-affirming care as safe and necessary. However, restrictions persist in 27 states, with federal courts invalidating similar bans in Arkansas and Florida while Kansas remains untested.
Democratic leaders in Utah are pressing for a comprehensive review of the report before any legislative action is taken. Despite acknowledging potential risks associated with gender-affirming treatments, the report underscored the dangers of untreated gender dysphoria.
As Utah balances the future of its minors with the evolving medical landscape, the legislative discourse on gender-affirming care remains contentious amid growing calls for re-evaluation.
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