Puerto Rico’s Governor Jenniffer González Signs Law Banning Gender Affirming Care for Those Under 21

A new law restricting access to gender-affirming care for individuals under the age of 21 is now in effect in Puerto Rico, following the decision by Governor Jenniffer González to sign Senate Bill 350. The legislation, now officially Law 63-2025, prohibits medical professionals from administering hormone therapy, puberty blockers, or related treatments to anyone under that age, regardless of whether treatment had already begun.

The law’s passage follows public concern raised by legal and medical experts, including the island’s own health secretary, and comes despite the absence of documented cases involving gender-affirming surgeries on minors in Puerto Rico.

Health Officials Warned of Gaps That Were Left Unaddressed

In the days before the bill became law, Health Secretary Víctor Ramos submitted a written position to the governor, recommending changes he believed were necessary to prevent harm. According to El Nuevo Dia, two specific amendments were proposed: first, to allow puberty blockers under appropriate care, and second, to ensure that those aged 18 to 21 who had already started hormone treatment could continue uninterrupted.

The Legislature did not incorporate either recommendation. Ramos acknowledged that blocking access to treatments mid-process could bring health consequences, particularly for young adults already undergoing care. When asked whether he stood by the bill in its final form, he declined to clarify. He also refrained from sharing the content of his conversations with the governor, saying the decision now rested fully in her hands.

Though Ramos noted that procedures such as gender confirmation surgery are not currently performed on minors in Puerto Rico, he said the law was constructed to preemptively block services that might one day be offered.

Governor Jenniffer González Signs the Bill Following Amendments Requested by Her Office

The legislation had been sent to the governor’s office on June 28, according to public records. Days later, she confirmed the bill had not yet reached her for consideration. By July 10, however, her administration announced it had been signed into law following revisions introduced at her request.

Those changes were separate from the medical exceptions sought by the Department of Health. The governor did not specify what her requested amendments entailed. The law now prohibits both medical interventions and potential future procedures that were not previously being offered.

Many Call This Law Harmful

The law’s approval was met with criticism from multiple professional and civil society groups. The Puerto Rico chapter of the ACLU, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Bar Association, the College of Social Workers, and the Association of Professional Counseling all voiced their disapproval.

In public statements, the ACLU said the measure directly targets transgender youth and penalizes their families and doctors for accessing or providing affirming care. The organization warned that the law would further marginalize a population already at risk, with some individuals potentially losing access to care that supports their mental and physical health.

Other groups criticized the Legislature’s focus on a medical issue that they say is not currently part of local practice, arguing that the law’s passage introduces unnecessary fear and reinforces stigmatization.

The Implications Ahead

Law 63-2025 stands as one of the most restrictive policies of its kind in a U.S. jurisdiction, extending well past childhood to restrict care for legal adults under 21. While the bill’s authors argued the need to protect youth, critics say it limits medically accepted treatments and undermines the authority of health professionals.

What comes next remains uncertain. It is not yet known whether legal challenges will be brought forward, or how the law will affect those currently receiving care. Nonetheless, the political decision has reshaped how gender-affirming care is addressed in Puerto Rico, raising new questions about access, medical autonomy, and the role of government in decisions related to health and identity.