Brazil’s CFM council raised the minimum age for transgender individuals to access hormone therapy from 16 to 18, also prohibiting puberty blockers for minors with gender dysphoria. The council further increased the minimum age for certain gender reassignment surgeries to 21. This decision follows similar actions in other countries, including Argentina, and mirrors growing global debate surrounding the provision of such treatments to minors. The move reflects a broader conservative trend impacting transgender rights, fueled by ongoing political and legal challenges worldwide.
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Following expert medical advice, the UK government has implemented an indefinite ban on puberty blockers for under-18s with gender dysphoria, except within clinical trials. This decision, supported by the Commission on Human Medicines citing unacceptable safety risks, makes permanent the emergency measures initially introduced in May. The ban applies UK-wide, following consultation with devolved administrations, and affects new patients only; existing patients will continue treatment. A planned clinical trial aims to establish a clearer evidence base for the medication’s use.
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A federal appeals court has upheld an Indiana law banning puberty blockers and hormones for transgender children under 18, mirroring similar legislation passed in other Republican-led states. The court rejected arguments that the law discriminates based on sex or violates parental rights, concluding that the law applies equally to all minors and that parents do not have an unfettered right to any medical treatment for their children. This decision aligns with rulings in other states and sets the stage for the Supreme Court to potentially decide the fate of such laws nationwide, with proponents arguing they protect children from experimental treatments and opponents citing the positive mental health outcomes associated with these treatments.
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John Q. Hosedrinker