HUGE: New Hampshire just became the first state in New England to totally ban transgender operations on children.

New Hampshire’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte on August 2, 2025, marks a historic shift as the first New England state to enact such a policy, following a trend where 23 U.S. states have similar restrictions, driven by concerns over long-term effects on youth, as noted in a 2023 study from the Journal of Adolescent Health showing 98% of gender-dysphoric minors desist without medical intervention by adulthood.

The decision contrasts with rising transgender youth diagnoses, with a 2021 Reuters analysis reporting a near-tripling to 42,000 children aged 6-17 since 2017, reflecting increased societal acceptance but also sparking debate, as a 2022 peer-reviewed study in Frontiers in Psychiatry found puberty blockers’ long-term cognitive and bone-density impacts remain understudied.

Critics, including GLBTQ Legal Advocates, highlight potential family displacement, with some preparing to leave New Hampshire, while supporters argue it protects children from irreversible decisions, aligning with a 2024 AAMC report noting only 1-3% of transgender youth undergo surgery, underscoring the focus on medical rather than surgical care in these bans.