Court Upholds Gender Care Bans in AL and FL

A federal appeals court has cleared the way for Alabama and Florida to enforce bans on gender-affirming care for minors, including puberty blockers and hormone therapies. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a 2-1 decision that these laws, which have sparked significant dissent and legal challenges, can proceed while further appeals are reviewed. Judges who dissented warned that such rulings strip parents of the right to seek modern medical treatments for their children. In Texas, the Department of Public Safety announced it would no longer accept court orders to change the sex on driver's licenses, prompting civil rights groups to consider legal action. These state-level restrictions are part of a broader trend, with 26 states enacting similar laws since 2021, many of which are facing legal challenges. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a challenge to a similar ban in Tennessee, which could set a national precedent.