BOISE, Idaho – A federal judge has blocked Idaho from enforcing a law that prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender minors, such as puberty blockers and hormones, in a win for families who challenged the law in court.

U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled that the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees equal protection and due process, giving parents the right to seek gender-affirming care for their children.

The preliminary order, issued on Tuesday, is the latest development in the ongoing legal battle over laws that restrict access to gender-affirming treatments for transgender youth. Idaho is one of about 20 states with similar bans, but the court’s decision is seen as a significant victory for families and advocates of transgender rights.

The judge’s ruling was met with praise from advocates, with one ACLU lawyer expressing gratitude for the court’s recognition of the danger the law posed to their clients’ well-being. However, the Idaho Attorney General has stated his intention to appeal, arguing that the ruling puts children at risk of irreversible harm.

The case stems from a lawsuit filed in May by two families of transgender girls who are receiving hormone therapy. They argued that the law would cut off medically necessary care and violate their rights. In granting the motion to block the law’s enforcement, Judge Winmill emphasized the safety, effectiveness, and medical necessity of the banned treatments for some adolescents.

This decision adds to a growing body of legal challenges to gender-affirming bans, with courts across the country divided on the issue. While lower courts have generally blocked such bans, appeals courts have often sided with the states. The ongoing legal battles underscore the complex and divisive nature of the debate surrounding gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

The ruling marks a significant moment in the fight for transgender rights, but the legal battle is far from over as the state intends to appeal the decision. The case underscores the ongoing debate over the rights of transgender minors and the role of the government in regulating gender-affirming care.