OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, a co-author of Senate Bill 613, released the following statement following a federal ruling upholding the legality of the legislation, which prohibits gender transition procedures for anyone under the age of 18.

"I'm glad the court ruled in favor of protecting our youth from the permanent harms that will be caused by these procedures. Youth is a time of rapid change in bodies and hormone levels and brain development. Multiple scientific studies have failed to show a benefit from these procedures and in fact show potential for great and lasting harm. Perceptions formed at a young age can change drastically by adulthood. This law gives young people time to pause on taking an action that could lead to permanent mutilation of their bodies and sterilization as well as long-term adverse psychological consequences."

Allowed under the law are medications or procedures for youth diagnosed with precocious or delayed puberty, those born with ambiguous or incomplete genitalia or who have both male and female anatomical features, or those who have a biochemically verifiable chromosomal disorder of sex development, as well as other exceptions.