A Missouri state court on Monday temporarily blocked the implementation of a state attorney general’s order restricting the provision of gender-affirming care for transgender children and adults.
The big picture: While more legislation has focused on restricting access to transgender minors, the order, issued by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, is one of the first state actions to target gender-affirming care for adults.
A judge delayed Bailey’s order, which was supposed to go into effect last week, until May 1. The court’s decision on Monday extends that moratorium until May 15.
Catch up fast: Bailey issued the emergency rules in April, restricting access to gender-affirming care for trans youth and adults, arguing that such treatment is “experimental.”
The order states that a trans patient must present an “intense pattern” of gender dysphoria for at least three years before accessing gender-affirming treatments.
A patient must have gone through a “full psychological or psychiatric assessment,” which consists of at least 15 sessions over 18 months.
A health provider must also ensure that a patient is screened for autism and, if they’re a minor, a provider must determine if they have a “social media addiction or compulsion.”
