States are Limiting Gender-Affirming Care For Adults, Too

Amid a wave of state restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, some red states are also limiting treatment for adults.

Why it matters: Many states that enacted limits on transition-related care for minors in recent years said they were focused on protecting children.

• But three states have broadly limited or sought to broadly limit transition care for adults. Transgender rights advocates expect state lawmakers to pursue more restrictions on adults this year.
• Mainstream medical societies endorse gender-affirming care, as research shows that the care is safe and can be life-saving.

Driving the news: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine last week announced new draft regulations that civil rights advocates say would be the strictest limits on adult transition care in the country if they take effect.

• The rules would require minors and adults to get approval from an endocrinologist, psychiatrist and bioethicist before receiving gender-affirming care.
• Providers would also have to report to the state each gender dysphoria diagnosis, any time they initiate treatment and details about the cessation of treatment, according to the draft regulations.
• DeWine, after last month vetoing legislation that would ban transition care for minors, also issued an executive order barring transition-related surgeries for minors.
• "There are things we need to do to protect children and adults, and those things go well beyond" the bill he vetoed, DeWine said during a press conference last week. The Ohio House and Senate are expected to override his veto this month.