Missouri judge says ban on gender-affirming care for minors can start Monday

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP)

A Missouri judge says a law banning gender-affirming treatments for minors can take effect.

St. Louis Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer ruled that the law will kick in Monday, as previously scheduled. Families of transgender minors had sued to overturn the law. They asked Judge Ohmer to temporarily block it as the court challenge plays out. But his ruling means that beginning Monday, minors in Missouri no longer can receive gender-affirming surgeries.

Children prescribed puberty blockers or hormones before Aug. 28 will be allowed to continue treatment. Other children won’t have access to those medications.

Missouri Attorney General said in a social media post that Missouri was "the first state in the nation to successfully defend a law barring child mutilation."

BREAKING: Missouri is the first state in the nation to successfully defend a law barring child mutilation at the trial court. I’ve said from day one as Attorney General that I will fight to ensure that Missouri is the safest state in the nation for children. This is a huge step…

— Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) August 25, 2023

Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri called the law a "shameful mark" on the state and vowed to do what it could to continue helping patients.

The case is still set for a trial and an ACLU spokesman pledged the organization would keep fighting the law.

ABC 17 News staff contributed to this report.