Missouri Judge Stands by Transgender Surgery Ban

In Missouri, a judge has decided he can't overturn the state's ban on transgender surgeries. This ruling comes just before a big Supreme Court hearing on a similar case from Tennessee. The judge, Craig Carter, said he couldn't overturn the ban because there's no agreement on the safety and ethics of these treatments. He also said that states have the right to protect the medical profession's integrity. The ban, which started in 2023, stops teens from getting puberty blockers or hormone treatments. Judge Carter thinks these treatments aren't normal and that most kids will outgrow feeling like they're in the wrong body. The American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal, who argued against the ban, are really upset about the decision and plan to appeal. They think the judge ignored important evidence and the voices of transgender people. Missouri isn't the only state with this ban. About 40% of trans teens live in states with similar rules. Next week, the Supreme Court will discuss Tennessee's ban, with three trans teens and the Biden administration leading the case.