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MEDTECH Is Texas’ Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors Reducing Access to Essential Health Care?
A recent bill signed into Texas law marks a substantial legislative shift in gender-affirming care for minors, banning health care providers from prescribing hormones or puberty blockers, and preventing surgeries to aid minors in gender transition. Alongside more than 75 similar anti-LGBTQ+ bills passed this year, this new law raises significant concerns over reduced access to health care for transgender individuals. The situation casts a spotlight on the vital role pharmacists can play in providing support, education, and advocacy.
Key Points:
- The Texas bill, effective September 2023, bans gender-affirming care for minors, including hormone and puberty blocker prescriptions, and surgeries.
- Similar laws have been passed across various states, imposing barriers like banning gender-affirming care, restroom restrictions, anti-drag laws, and possible criminal consequences for providers.
- A 2022 study linked states’ anti-transgender bills with an increase in suicide- and depression-related web searches.
- Pharmacists, as the most accessible health care providers, must engage in advocacy, self-education, and allyship to assist affected patients, given that 40% feel unprepared for transgender-related care counseling.
Additional Points:
- Building trust with transgender patients is essential, including respectful use of pronouns, mirroring language, avoiding deadnaming, and advocating for gender-inclusive systems.
- Amy Howard, MS, PharmD, highlights the need for well-designed research and the importance of incorporating lived experiences to inform future policy and advocacy.
Conclusion:
- The Texas law and similar legislation mark a turning point in gender-affirming care, placing a significant burden on transgender individuals. Pharmacists must step up as allies, educators, and advocates to help navigate these challenges.
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“If we want to ensure that treatment options for transgender youth are as safe as possible, we need to promote funding well-designed research in this field.”
Amy Howard, MS, PharmD
Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
