Newly signed law limits transgender rights for those under 21 in Puerto Rico

On July 16, a new law was put into place on the islands of Puerto Rico. Governor Jenniffer González Colón signed a bill, PS0350, limiting transgender care for those under 21 years old. 

The bill focuses on restricting hormone therapy. It also works to prevent gender affirming surgeries. It zones in on transgender youth, banning this type of care with severe consequences. The idea for this is to “protect the physical and emotional integrity of children and adolescents.” The bill also mentions avoiding any actions that could impact a minor’s natural development. Medical professionals who violate this law can be subject to 15 years in prison. If someone performs these treatments or surgeries, they can also be faced with a $50,000 penalty. Doctors who do any of these therapies or surgeries would lose their license to practice medicine as well.

“Minors, having not yet reached the necessary emotional, cognitive, and physical maturity, are particularly vulnerable to making decisions that can have irreversible consequences,” the law said.

Bill PS0350 targets this idea, claiming they are preventing permanent changes.

“The protection of our children and the well-being of all minors is fundamental and non-negotiable,” Puerto Rican Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, the bill’s author, said.

Not everyone agrees with this sentiment, and the backlash for this bill is clear.

“Let there be no doubt: We will go to court to challenge the constitutionality of the governor’s cruel and inhumane signing of a law that criminalizes health professionals for caring for trans minors,” Justin Jesús Santiago, Puerto Rico’s LGBTQ+ Federation director, said. 

This is how Santiago expressed his plans, and he is not the only one. Associations in Puerto Rico that represent surgeons, physicians, social workers, lawyers, psychologists, and more are outspoken about their desire for the governor to veto the bill. The American Civil Liberties Union is a prime example of an organization being outspoken in its opposition to this law.

Unlike in US states, where the legal age is 18, adulthood in Puerto Rico starts at 21. This makes Puerto Rico one of the more restrictive places regarding the age limit, especially for this bill. Those extra years, in comparison to the states, cause the new law to stand out even more.

Similarly, Alabama and Nebraska have limited their care for people up to 19 years of age. This also aligns with an executive order recently signed by President Trump. The order has been titled “Protecting Children From Chemical And Surgical Mutilation.” The goal of this order is to end federal support for gender-affirming care in younger generations.

In both the US and Puerto Rico, changes are being made for the transgender care of minors. This includes limited treatment and severe punishments that can end in jail time. The reactions for this are strong on both sides, yet time will tell the future of this law.