Transgender individuals under the age of 21 in Puerto Rico are now prohibited from receiving hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgeries.
**Puerto Rico Enacts Law Restricting Gender-Affirming Care for Minors**
In a move that has sparked controversy, Governor Jennifer Gonzalez of Puerto Rico has signed a bill that prohibits hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries for transgender individuals under the age of 21. The law, which was approved late on Wednesday, aims to ensure the comprehensive well-being of minors, but has drawn sharp criticism from activists in Puerto Rico.
The new law stipulates that minors are particularly vulnerable to making decisions with irreversible consequences and that public funds cannot be used for hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgeries for transgender youth. Violators of the law face penalties that include up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $50,000, and the revocation of all licenses and permits of medical staff.
Puerto Rico associations representing physicians, surgeons, psychologists, social workers, lawyers, and other professionals had urged the governor to veto the bill, citing concerns about the well-being of transgender youth and the potential impact on their mental health. The Puerto Rico LGBTQ+ Federation also criticized the law in a statement on Thursday, with the federation's director, Justin Jesús Santiago, stating that they will challenge the law in court.
The law is part of a trend across several U.S. states to restrict access to gender-affirming care for minors, with roughly two dozen states having similar laws. While the specifics can vary by state, these laws often aim to ban hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries for transgender youth. However, understanding the current situation in other U.S. states requires a review of state-by-state legislation and recent developments, as these can change frequently.
As of July 2025, the new law in Puerto Rico marks a significant development in the ongoing debate about the rights of transgender youth and access to gender-affirming care. The controversy surrounding the law is likely to continue as advocates for transgender rights and those who support the law voice their opinions.
Health-and-wellness organizations in Puerto Rico have expressed concerns about the mental health implications of the recently enacted law restricting gender-affirming care for minors. In an attempt to safeguard public funds, the law prohibits the use of funds for hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries for transgender youth, potentially impacting the science-backed treatments aimed at promoting the overall health and well-being of transgender minors.
