Salt Lake City, UT, USA
On February 18, 2025, a coalition of Republican governors gathered in Salt Lake City, Utah, to announce a national initiative calling for a ban on gender-affirming medical treatments for minors. The initiative, titled the “Protecting Children from Harm Act,” seeks to prevent minors from undergoing medical procedures like puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and gender-affirming surgeries, which the governors argue are not only dangerous but also irreversible at a young age.
Governor Spencer Cox of Utah, who hosted the event, was joined by fellow Republican governors Ron DeSantis of Florida, Kristi Noem of South Dakota, and Greg Abbott of Texas. The governors have all signed similar bills into law in their respective states, and this new initiative aims to create a unified, nationwide push to restrict gender-affirming care for minors, asserting that children should not be able to make life-altering decisions about their gender before reaching adulthood.
“Children should not be subjected to irreversible medical procedures, and this legislation is about protecting their mental and physical well-being,” Governor Cox said during the press conference. “This bill will ensure that we don’t rush minors into life-changing decisions and that parents have control over what’s best for their children’s health.”
The proposed legislation would make it illegal for healthcare providers to administer puberty blockers, hormone treatments, or gender-affirming surgeries to minors, a measure that supporters argue would reduce potential future regret among transgender individuals who undergo these treatments at a young age. The initiative would also require more extensive mental health evaluations and counseling for minors experiencing gender dysphoria, focusing on therapy and psychological support before any medical treatments can be prescribed.
Governor DeSantis, who has been at the forefront of banning gender-affirming care for minors in Florida, emphasized that the state’s approach has been successful in protecting children from what he calls “experimental” medical procedures. He argued that these treatments could have significant, negative long-term effects on minors’ mental and physical health.
“We are here to protect children and make sure they are not rushed into irreversible medical decisions,” DeSantis said. “Florida’s laws have already led to better outcomes, and we want to take this nationwide to make sure other children across the country are safe.”
The bill has drawn support from conservative groups such as the Family Research Council, which argues that gender-affirming care for minors is harmful and should not be allowed without full parental involvement and informed consent.
However, the proposal has met with strong opposition from LGBTQ+ rights organizations, medical professionals, and progressive lawmakers, who argue that gender-affirming care is a critical aspect of supporting transgender minors and that delaying or denying such care could exacerbate mental health struggles and lead to increased rates of suicide and depression.
“This bill will cause immeasurable harm to transgender youth, who need this care to live healthy and fulfilling lives,” said an ACLU spokesperson. “Medical experts agree that gender-affirming care is essential for the well-being of transgender minors.”
As the proposal gains traction, it is expected to become a key issue in the upcoming election cycle, with both sides of the debate continuing to clash over parental rights, medical autonomy, and the rights of transgender individuals. The outcome of this initiative will have lasting implications for healthcare policies surrounding gender identity and minors across the United States.
