Oklahoma on Monday became the last state to ban gender-affirming medical care for minors as a Republican administration. Kevin Stitt signed a bill that makes it a crime for health professionals to give children treatments that may include puberty-suppressing drugs and hormones.

Oklahoma joins at least 15 other states with laws banning such care as conservatives across the country have focused on transgender rights.

Stitt, who was re-elected in November, made the ban a priority for this year’s legislature, saying he wanted to protect children. Transgender advocates and parents of transgender children say such care is essential.

Stitt signed bills last year banning transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams and

prevent prohibition

transgender children from using school bathrooms that match their gender identity.

Missouri judge blocks rule that would limit transgender care

Last year I called for a ban on all irreversible gender transition surgery and hormone therapies on minors, so I’m excited to sign it into law today and protect our children, Stitt said in a statement released after the signing. We can’t close our eyes to what’s happening in our country, and as governor, I’m proud to stand up for what’s right and ban life-changing transitional surgeries on children in the state of Oklahoma.

The bill Stitt signed into law on Monday makes it illegal to provide gender reassignment medical care to anyone under the age of 18. Such treatment may include surgery as well as hormones and medications that suppress or delay normal puberty.

Transgender advocates and parents of transgender children say such care is essential.

Several civil liberties organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, have pledged to take all necessary legal action to prevent the law from taking effect.

Gender affirmation care is a critical component to helping transgender adolescents succeed, form healthy relationships with their friends and family, live authentically as themselves and dream about their future, Lambda Legal, the ACLU and the ACLU said in a joint statement. .

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At least 16 states have now enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, South Dakota, and West Virginia . Federal judges have blocked enforcement of laws in Alabama and Arkansas, and nearly two dozen states are considering bills this year to restrict or ban healthcare.

Three states of Florida, Missouri and Texas have banned or restricted care through regulations or administrative orders, and Missouris is the only one to restrict adult treatments as well. A judge has blocked Missouri’s restrictions. The governor of Texas has directed child welfare officials to investigate reports of children receiving such care as child abuse, though a judge has blocked those investigations.