Across the United States, transgender youth are facing unprecedented legal, medical, and social obstacles. In recent years, conservative lawmakers have escalated efforts to restrict gender-affirming care, and the impact is already being felt. What once felt like isolated policy battles has grown into a coordinated, multi-state campaign that directly threatens the health and safety of trans youth.

While advocacy organizations, parents, and healthcare providers continue to fight back, the erosion of rights is accelerating. In many cases, these laws and policies are not just symbolic gestures or partisan rhetoric—they carry real consequences. Gender-affirming care is being banned, LGBTQ+ protections are being repealed, and access to essential services is vanishing almost overnight.

Here are five US states where trans youth are currently losing access in ways that demand urgent attention.

1. Iowa: Gender Identity Protections Removed

On July 1, 2025, Iowa officially removed gender identity as a protected category under the Iowa Civil Rights Act, a move that has sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ community. The change allows schools, businesses, and landlords to legally discriminate against transgender individuals without consequence.

The law, passed during a contentious legislative session, also includes restrictions on restroom access and has been criticized for potentially violating federal Title IX protections. As AP News reports, LGBTQ advocates warn that this will embolden further discrimination and may lead to increased harassment, housing insecurity, and denial of basic services.

2. Texas: Expanding Child Abuse Investigations

Texas has been at the center of the national debate over gender-affirming care since 2022, when Governor Greg Abbott directed the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate parents of trans children for alleged child abuse if they pursued medical care such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy.

Although courts have temporarily blocked some aspects of this directive, the state has continued to pursue aggressive legal strategies to limit access. According to The Texas Tribune, a law enacted last year bans nearly all forms of gender-affirming care for minors and bars public funding for organizations that provide such services. Clinics have closed or stopped offering care due to fear of legal retaliation.

3. Florida: Criminalizing Providers and Families

In Florida, Senate Bill 254—signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis—not only bans gender-affirming care for minors but also includes provisions that allow the state to take custody of children receiving such care. The law has effectively criminalized parents and providers under the guise of “child protection.”

The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and other civil rights organizations have challenged the law in court, calling it an extreme overreach of state power. As reported by NBC News, several families have been forced to flee the state to ensure their children can continue receiving care.

4. Missouri: Temporary Injunctions Lifted, Bans in Effect

Missouri made headlines when it became one of the first states to attempt a broad ban on gender-affirming care not just for minors, but also for some adults. While a temporary restraining order initially delayed implementation, the law is now in full effect.

As of July 2025, healthcare providers risk losing their medical licenses for offering transition-related services to anyone under 18. Even mental health professionals face legal uncertainty when treating transgender youth. St. Louis Public Radioreports that multiple clinics have ceased operations, and out-of-state options are increasingly difficult to access due to travel bans and insurance exclusions.

5. California: Clinics Shutting Down Under Political Pressure

California has long been considered a sanctuary for transgender youth, but recent developments show that even progressive states are not immune to political pressure. According to The Guardian, several high-profile clinics at institutions like Stanford and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles have halted or scaled back their gender-affirming care programs.

While no state law mandates these closures, the decision appears to be a response to mounting pressure from federal investigations and conservative legal threats. The Biden administration has faced increasing scrutiny over how it balances civil rights enforcement with political realities, leaving some providers caught in the crossfire.

Parents and advocates fear this chilling effect could spread to other liberal-leaning states, setting back years of progress.

The Bigger Picture

As of mid-2025, over 570 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced across the United States, with more than 50 enacted into law, many of which target transgender youth specifically. These include not only bans on medical care but also restrictions on sports participation, pronoun usage in schools, and bathroom access. Them.us maintains a running tracker of these policies.

The cumulative effect of these laws is not theoretical. Trans youth are being denied the ability to live authentically, to access medically necessary care, and to feel safe in their own schools and communities. Mental health professionals warn of an impending crisis as rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts climb among trans and non-binary youth.

Still, resistance continues. Grassroots organizations, national legal teams, and everyday families are fighting back in courtrooms and communities. They need visibility, solidarity, and support from all corners of the LGBTQ community and its allies.

Stay Informed and Get Involved

These five states represent just a snapshot of a larger national issue. The fight for trans rights is ongoing and requires both local and federal action. Stay informed by following reputable sources, support organizations on the ground, and speak out against discriminatory policies whenever possible.

Have you or someone you love been impacted by these restrictions? Share your experience in the comments to help others understand the stakes of this fight.