Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a controversial bill banning transgender care for minors, making Texas the largest US state to do so. The bill prohibits healthcare providers giving gender-affirming treatments like hormone therapy and surgeries to minors who identify as transgender. Proponents of the bill, including its sponsor, Senator Charles Perry, argue that these treatments can have detrimental effects on minors and that such decisions should be left to parents. However, LGBTQ+ advocates and medical professionals have criticized the bill and say it could lead to increased suicide rates among trans youths. Texas joins several other states that have passed similar legislation, including Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi. The bill is set to go into effect on September 1, 2021.