Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey spent the last week battling for the state’s law protecting children from irreversible transgender interventions, both surgical and hormonal.

“We’re winning this fight and it’s important to keep fighting and pushing forward not to give up one inch of space in order to protect kids,” he stressed.

The attorney general joined “The Daily Signal Podcast” to break down why LGBTQ groups are fighting SB 49, the Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, which went into effect Monday.

“Under this act, no health care provider shall perform gender transition surgeries on any minor,” the legislation’s summary states. “Until August 28, 2027, no health care provider shall prescribe or administer cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to a minor for a gender transition, unless such minor was receiving such treatment prior to August 28, 2023.”

“A violation of these provisions shall be considered unprofessional conduct and shall result in the revocation of the health care provider’s professional license,” the summary continues. “Additionally, the prescription or administration of cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to a minor for a gender transition shall be grounds for a cause of action against the health care provider, as described in the act.”

Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed the bill into law on June 7, warning at the time: “These decisions have permanent consequences for life and should not be made by impressionable children who may be in crisis or influenced by the political persuasions of others.”

But LGBTQ groups challenged the law — organizations that Bailey described to The Daily Signal as “radical left-wing activists that are more interested in social ideology and the protection of children.”

“That’s why it was so important to actually go to court, get an open court, and test their evidence,” he explained. “They’re the plaintiff. They have a burden of proof if they want to stop this law from going into effect.”

On Friday, a Missouri trial court declined to block SB 49, citing “conflicting and unclear” medical evidence on the effectiveness of so-called puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.

“The science and medical evidence is conflicting and unclear,” Judge Stephen R. Ohmer ruled Friday. “Accordingly, the evidence raises more questions than answers.”

Mary Margaret Olohan is a senior reporter for The Daily Signal. She previously reported for The Daily Caller and The Daily Wire, where she covered national politics as well as social and cultural issues. Email her at [email protected].

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