Utah is the first state to pass a gender-affirming care ban in 2023
Gov. Spencer Cox, who vetoed a similar bill last year, said he has no plans to veto this one, which has already made its way through the state legislature.
Utah is the first state to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors this year.
Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, signed a bill Saturday that bars minors from receiving gender-affirming surgeries and places an indefinite moratorium on their access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy.
The bill, which passed in the Utah State Legislature last week and became effective Saturday, immediately after the governor signed it, is prospective, so minors who were diagnosed with gender dysphoria before the effective date would still be able to receive care if they meet a list of requirements.
“Legislation that impacts our most vulnerable youth requires careful consideration and deliberation. While not a perfect bill, we are grateful for Sen. Kennedy’s more nuanced and thoughtful approach to this terribly divisive issue," Cox said in a statement Saturday, referencing the bill's sponsor, Republican State Sen. Michael Kennedy. "While we understand our words will be of little comfort to those who disagree with us, we sincerely hope that we can treat our transgender families with more love and respect as we work to better understand the science and consequences behind these procedures.”
Last year, Cox became the second Republican governor to veto a bill that bars transgender students from playing girls’ sports.
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