WASHINGTON, July 8 (Reuters) - A Tennessee law prohibiting doctors from providing medical care such as puberty-blockers and gender affirming surgery for transgender minors can go into effect immediately, a U.S. appeals court ruled Saturday. Tennessee's law is part of a growing series of efforts by Republican lawmakers to impose new restrictions on medical care for transgender youths. The appeals court's decision Saturday said that absent a clear showing that Tennessee's law violated the Constitution, choices about medical care and protecting minors are best settled by state legislatures. Judge Helen White said she believed Tennessee's law "is likely unconstitutional" as a type of sex discrimination. Sutton wrote that the appeals court will try to reach a final decision about Tennessee's law by Sept. 30.

---

Persons: construing, Jeffrey Sutton, Lawmakers, Helen White, Sutton, Brad Heath, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S, Appeals, Sixth Circuit, . Constitution, Republican, Thomson Locations: Tennessee, U.S, .