The US Supreme Court made a controversial decision on Monday, allowing Idaho to enforce a ban on gender-affirming medical care for nearly all transgender minors in the state. The law, known as HB 71, prohibits health care providers from offering treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries to minors seeking to affirm their gender identity. This decision comes after Idaho officials filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court to lift a block on the law that had been put in place by a lower court.

The Supreme Court's conservative majority granted the state's request for a stay, allowing the ban to go into effect while the case is still being litigated. The court's liberal justices, including Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, objected to the decision. Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, argued that the lower court's injunction was too broad and prevented Idaho from enforcing any aspect of the law for an extended period.

The families of two transgender teenagers, who are challenging the law, argued that the ban would have serious consequences for their mental health and well-being. The district court had previously granted a preliminary injunction, blocking the law from being enforced statewide. However, the Supreme Court's decision now allows Idaho to enforce the ban, except for the two plaintiffs involved in the case.

The ACLU, which is representing the families challenging the law, criticized the Supreme Court's ruling, stating that it would harm transgender youth and their families in Idaho. The organization vowed to continue fighting the law in court to ensure that transgender minors have access to necessary medical care.

This decision by the Supreme Court comes amid a wave of similar laws being passed in more than 20 states across the country, restricting gender-affirming medical care for minors. The legal battle over Idaho's Vulnerable Child Protection Act highlights the ongoing debate over transgender rights and the role of the government in regulating medical treatments for minors.