Governor urged to veto bill that restricts medical access for trans youth

Puerto Rico Bar Association President Vivian Godineaux Villaronga

By The Star Staff

Puerto Rico Bar Association President Vivian Godineaux Villaronga urged Gov. Jenniffer González Colón on Monday to veto Senate Bill 350, which was recently approved by the Legislature.

“Senate Bill 350 raises serious concerns from a constitutional, medical and human point of view,” Godineaux Villaronga said in a written statement. “It limits access to necessary health care and leaves children who already face multiple barriers in their development without protection.”

The letter sent to La Fortaleza on Monday notes that the bill could interfere with the clinical judgment of health professionals, criminalize medical care endorsed by medical associations, and conflict with constitutional rights such as privacy and parental authority.

The Bar Association warned that the measure could cause irreparable damage to the physical and emotional health of trans minors, while also cautioning about the lack of consultation with human rights experts, health professionals and community organizations that work with the trans population. The delivery of the letter to the governor was accompanied by a public appeal to the media.

“We firmly believe that public policies must be built from empathy, science and respect for diversity,” Godineaux Villaronga added in the letter. “We reiterate our willingness to collaborate in any evaluation process or design of measures that truly seek to protect children, while guaranteeing their dignity and equitable access to essential services.”