Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill banning most gender-affirming care for transgender minors, enacting the latest legislation targeting transgender youth.

Signed by Republican Kemp Senate Bill 140 On Thursday, it will ban surgery and hormone treatments for people under the age of 18 who want to use them for sex reassignment, while allowing the use of puberty blockers.

Young people using hormone therapy before July 1, when the law went into effect, can continue treatment.

All major medical groups say genital surgery is not recommended for minors, but other treatments are appropriate.

Violation of the law is punishable by revocation of the medical license.

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Kemp did not host the signing ceremony for the bill. Announced on Twitter.

Kemp said he supported legislation to save children. Many legislators in the county use the same justification for laws targeting trans minors and restricting family members, parents, and their doctors from making personal medical decisions.

Republican Senator Carden Summers, who sponsored the bill, said: Atlanta Journal Constitution He was “tickled” that Kemp signed the bill so soon — it passed parliament on Tuesday.

Summers said SB 140 is not a “zero tolerance” bill like other states have passed, but said Democratic politicians and LGBTQ+ activists hurt young people, and the Georgia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union He promised to sue.

Democratic Senator Josh McLoughlin added: Children will feel that their basic existence has been nullified and obliterated, and that their voices will not be heard. ”

trevor projectSuicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention Organization for LGBTQ Youth, said: 2022 report 55% of transgender and nonbinary youth in Georgia “have seriously considered suicide in the past year” and 16% attempted suicide in the same time frame.

The bill allows exemptions for SB 140, “Individuals born with a medically verifiable disorder of sexual development,” and other medical conditions, but does not include gender dysphoria.do not align according to American Psychiatric Association – among them.

Major medical associations agree that gender-affirming care is clinically appropriate for transgender children and adults.

Although care is highly individualized, some children may decide to use reversible pubertal suppression therapy.This part of the process can lead to gender-affirming physical changes. Potential hormone therapy may also be included.

Georgia’s bill does not explicitly ban puberty blockers, breaking similar bans nationwide. Instead, the bill focuses on hormone therapy with more lasting effects . American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologistssays the treatment can help transgender people with depression and boost their self-esteem.

Georgia Equality Executive Director Jeff Graham said the law “is a clear attack on the rights of transgender children, their parents, and the entire Georgia medical community. Georgia is better than this and I know that the majority of Georgians are on the right side of history.”

Georgia’s bill is similar to other states that have banned gender-affirming care for minors. Those states include Alabama, ArizonaArkansas, Iowa Mississippi, south dakotaTennessee, Utah.

Florida has set up one through its medical commission and is considering legislation for even stricter measures.

of Alabama and Arkansas Bans are temporarily blocked by court action.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear last week vetoed a bill that combined a ban on gender-affirming care and restrictions on LGBTQ+ content in schools and other provisions, but Republicans in Congress override may have enough votes to