June 2 (Reuters) - Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Friday signed a bill that bans transgender healthcare including puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors, making Texas the largest of the 20 states to have outlawed gender-affirming care.
Republican lawmakers across the country have promoted similar bills, saying they mistrust the consensus among major medical associations that endorse gender-affirming care as needed and even life-saving for trans youth after extensive evaluation.
Texas, the second most-populous U.S. state, has an estimated 29,800 transgender youth aged 13 to 17, according to the Williams Institute of UCLA.
The Texas law creates exceptions for minors who began treatment before June 1 or for those who attended 12 or more sessions of mental health counseling or psychotherapy for at least six months.
Groups including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics oppose the legislation.
Persons:
Greg Abbott, Daniel Trotta, Edwina Gibbs
Organizations:
Williams Institute of UCLA, American Civil Liberties Union, American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Republicans, Human Rights, Thomson
Locations:
Texas, U.S