US region prohibits trans operation for minors
(MENAFN) Puerto Rico has passed a law prohibiting sex reassignment surgeries and hormone treatments for anyone under 21, setting the strictest age limit of its kind in the United States. The legislation, signed on Wednesday, imposes severe penalties including up to 15 years in prison, fines up to $50,000, and the revocation of medical licenses for providers who perform these procedures on minors and young adults. The law also bans the use of public funds to cover such treatments and is slated to take effect in October.
The law’s authors argue that individuals under 21 lack the emotional, cognitive, and physical maturity to make irreversible decisions regarding gender transition. However, Puerto Rico’s LGBTQ+ Federation has condemned the law as discriminatory and dangerous, warning it may push transgender youth toward unsafe, unregulated options. Federation director Justin Jesus Santiago plans to legally challenge the law, citing conflicts with Puerto Rico’s constitution.
This move aligns with federal policies under President Donald Trump, who has emphasized a strict binary view of gender, issued executive orders limiting transgender rights, and rolled back protections related to medical procedures for minors. These federal directives have faced legal challenges, with some being blocked by courts.
Puerto Rico’s new restrictions stand out among numerous similar laws across about half of US states, as most limit such bans to those under 18, making Puerto Rico’s the most stringent to date.
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