On March 8, Iowa became the eighth state in the U.S. to pass a ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender youth. The bill is currently awaiting signature by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R), who signed a restrictive transgender sports bill into law in 2022.

The health care ban is similar to bans that have been introduced across the country, and would prohibit trans youth from accessing medical care such as hormone replacement therapy, gender-affirming surgeries and puberty blockers.

Once the bill is signed, trans children currently taking hormone therapy would have 180 days to end treatment in the state. Studies have shown that being denied access to gender-affirming care puts trans youth at risk, and many advocates are concerned about the consequences that forced detransition will have on children’s mental health.

Over 2,000 Iowans packed the state Capitol earlier this month in protest of anti- trans bills, and hundreds of K-12 students from more than 26 schools coordinated walkouts to voice their dissent.

Jemma Bullock, co-founder of IowaWTF and a member of the Iowa Queer Student Alliance, told NBC News that, […]