"Georgia's Ban on Transgender Minors' Hormone Therapy Blocked by Judge"

A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction blocking Georgia from enforcing part of a new law that bans doctors from starting hormone therapy for transgender individuals under the age of 18. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit challenging the ban, with the judge citing the risks of irreparable harm to plaintiffs, including depression and self-harm, outweighing any harm the state may experience from the injunction. The law, Senate Bill 140, allows puberty-blocking medications and hormone therapy for minors already receiving treatment, but bans new patients under 18 from starting hormone therapy and most gender-affirming surgeries. This ruling is seen as a victory for Georgia families and their rights to make medical decisions in the best interest of their transgender children.