Puerto Rico criminalizes gender-affirming care for youth under 21

Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory known for its conservative stance on social issues, has recently enacted legislation that significantly restricts access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender individuals. On a Wednesday in mid-July 2025, Governor Jenniffer González-Colón signed a bill that prohibits any form of hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgeries for those under the age of 21. This law arrives amid a nationwide trend where various states in the U.S. have passed similar restrictions targeting transgender minors. Under this new regulation, healthcare providers violating the law could face severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment, and could also lose their medical licenses and permits permanently. Public funds are also barred from being used for any procedures covered under this legislation, indicating a strong stance by the Puerto Rican government against transgender healthcare for youth. The legislation has raised significant alarm among LGBTQ+ activists and health professionals who argue that it infringes upon the rights of transgender youths and their access to appropriate care. The Puerto Rico LGBTQ+ Federation was quick to react, announcing intentions to challenge the law's constitutionality in court, labeling it as inhumane and draconian. Many local associations consisting of healthcare professionals, lawyers, and social workers had previously urged the governor to veto the bill, citing the importance of providing necessary medical support to transgender minors who may require such interventions for their overall well-being. As the law is set to go into effect in October 2025, its implications may create further divisions in the ongoing debate about transgender rights and healthcare accessibility. Activists emphasize that the consequences of denying gender-affirming care could be detrimental to the mental and emotional health of young transgender individuals, who often face heightened vulnerability and higher rates of mental health issues when their identities are not validated or supported. This legislative move parallels similar laws across roughly two dozen U.S. states that have moved to limit gender-affirming care for transgender youth, setting the stage for legal battles that are anticipated to unfold in the coming months.