Utah bans gender-affirming surgery for young trans people

Republican governor Spencer Cox signs into law bill that denies gender-affirming care, as other states weigh similar measures

Utah's Republican governor on Saturday signed a bill that bans young people who are transgender from receiving gender-affirming healthcare as other states consider similar legislation.

The governor, Spencer Cox, who had not taken a public position on the transgender care measure, signed it a day after the state legislature sent it to his desk. Utah's measure prohibits transgender surgery for young people and disallows hormone treatments for minors who have not yet been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.