TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —

A Florida law banning transgender youth from getting medical treatment is temporarily on hold after a surprise decision Tuesday by a federal judge.

The ruling comes amid a bevy of legislation sweeping state houses this year restricting gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

Meanwhile LGBTQ+ communities and their allies are organizing Pride events and calling for pushback against what they say are discriminatory laws.

Here's a look at the latest developments:

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WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FLORIDA?

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked portions of a new Florida law that bans transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers.

"Gender identity is real," Judge Robert Hinkle said, ruling that the state has no rational basis for denying patients treatment.

In the video player above: Human Rights Campaign declares a national state of emergency in the U.S. for LGBTQ+ community

Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction saying three transgender children can continue receiving treatment.

The lawsuit brought by the three children's parents challenges the law Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed shortly before he announced a run for president.

The judge's decision focuses on the use of GnRH agonists, known as puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones. The litigation focuses on language involving minors and doesn't address other wording that makes it difficult to nearly impossible for adults to receive or continue gender-affirming care.

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LOUISIANA'S RESTRICTIONS

A bill banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths in Louisiana has passed in the Senate and is heading to the governor's desk.

The measure would prohibit hormone treatments, gender-affirming surgery and puberty-blocking drugs for minors.

The House, which has already passed it, is expected to approve some amendments before the bill goes before Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who opposes it.

Edwards has not said whether he would veto the legislation. If he does, lawmakers could convene a veto session to try to override his decision.

Last session, the governor chose not to block a law banning transgender athletes from participating in women and girls sports competitions in Louisiana, although he successfully vetoed a similar measure the year before.

Louisiana legislators are also expected to give final passage to two other anti-LGTBQ+ measures — a "Don't Say Gay" bill and one restricting pronoun usage.

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AN LGTBQ+ 'EMERGENCY'

The Human Rights Campaign has declared a " state of emergency " for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S., calling on people in government and the business community to fight for equal rights.

"We need champions right now," HRC President Kelley Robinson said.

The campaign released a guidebook for LGBTQ+ Americans to help them navigate laws it deems discriminatory in certain states. It includes a "know your rights" information section and resources to help people relocate to states with stronger LGBTQ+ protections.

The nation's largest organization devoted to LGBTQ+ rights said travel advisories aren't enough to help people already living in states where lawmakers have targeted LGBTQ+ people.

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FLAG FLAP IN MISSISSIPPI

Some residents are protesting after the Veterans Administration flew an LGBTQ+ pride flag at Mississippi's Biloxi National Cemetery.

All the Republicans in the state's congressional delegation have signed a letter demanding the VA remove the flag. The delegation's only Democrat, Rep. Bennie Thompson, did not sign it.

The rainbow flag was added to a lineup of several U.S. flags last week to mark June as Pride Month.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough McDonough has authorized flying the pride flag at all VA facilities throughout June, as he has done in previous years.

The VA said in a statement that it's flying the flag to show its commitment "to inclusion and as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of LGBTQ+ Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors."

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WHERE TRANSGENDER BANS STAND NATIONALLY

Hundreds of bills have been proposed restricting the rights of transgender people, and LGBTQ+ advocates say they've seen a record number of such measures in statehouses.

In addition to Florida, at least 18 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, South Dakota and West Virginia.

Federal judges have blocked enforcement of laws in Alabama and Arkansas, and Oklahoma has agreed to not enforce its ban while opponents seek a temporary court order blocking it.

Every major doctors' group, including the American Medical Association, has opposed the bans and supported the care for youth when administered appropriately.

Lawsuits have been filed in several states where bans have been enacted this year.

Numerous states across the country are moving to ban gender-affirming care for transgender individuals.

In response, other states are now pushing to become sanctuaries for people seeking that health care.

"There's been a resurgence of a lot of anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ bills," said Brianna Titone, a Democratic state representative and Colorado's first openly transgender state lawmaker. "There are other bills in other states that are saying anybody who is trans cannot get any type of health care services for trans care up to age 25. So, we're not just talking about trans youth, but we're talking about trans adults."

Lawmakers across the country are working to address legal protections for transgender people, parents of transgender youth and providers of gender-affirming care. The protections stem from changes this year on the federal and state levels regarding abortion rights and gender-affirming care.

SEE MORE: Advocates Worry About The Effects Of State Laws Targeting LGBTQ Youth

"When the Dobbs decision came down, that scared a lot of people into what is possible that the Supreme Court can do to undo a lot of the protections that have already been done," Titone said.

According to the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, these initiatives are led by many openly LGBTQ+ lawmakers. These bills would ban law enforcement from arresting people who go out of state to pursue gender-affirming care where it's legal.

"Texas would consider gender-affirming care for trans kids and trans youth to be child abuse," said Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute. "That it would be investigated by the state, then those kids could be taken away from their families. Our legislators are looking for opportunities to send a public message that their states, if at all possible, will become safe havens for those families."

"It's a struggle for a lot of people that I talk to on a daily basis in a lot of different states," Titone said. "I think about that myself, not being able to get the care that I need. I may be able to get through that mentally, but there's a lot of people who can't. There are a lot of people that their gender dysphoria is so bad they result to harming themselves in deep depression. And that can ruin a person."

SEE MORE: The Effect Of Transgender Athlete Bans On Youth Sports

According to the Trevor Project, 52% of transgender and non-binary youth have considered suicide. The report also shows that for people under age 18, receiving hormones was associated with nearly 40% lower odds of recent depression and a past-year suicide attempt.

According to writings from Moira Szilagyi, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, there is a strong consensus that "evidence-based, gender-affirming care for transgender children and adolescents is medically necessary and appropriate. It can even be lifesaving." Szilagyi noted that it doesn't necessarily mean hormone therapy or surgery.

This is why Titone is pushing for protection in her state for gender-affirming care, continuing the trend that has happened in 18 other states.

"We're going to take a stance of putting up a barrier to make sure whatever kind of crazy things they come up with to try to go after people," Titone said. "Whether they're providers here or patients coming here, we're going to make sure that we protect them in any situation we can and stay within the constitution. And that's the tricky part, doing this without breaking any constitutional laws."

Lawmakers in South Carolina passed an abortion ban while a judge in Montana was weighing restrictions there in the latest developments in the shifting landscape of law since the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned Roe v. Wade and the nationwide right to abortion.

Here's what to know.

BACK TO THE SENATE IN SOUTH CAROLINA

In conservative South Carolina, Republicans have been butting heads — sometimes dramatically — on how far to go with abortion bans.

The state Senate on Tuesday passed the latest effort to impose a ban on abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy, before many women know they're pregnant. The vote sent the bill to the governor, who has promised to sign it.

The three Republican women in the Senate joined all Democrats in voting against the bill. The House approved the ban last week, after an earlier effort narrowly fell short on procedural votes.

Lawmakers in conservative-dominated Nebraska have taken a similar path, with intraparty disputes until a 12-week ban was passed last week as part of a bill that would also ban gender-affirming care for those under 19. Republican Gov. Jim Pillen signed the bill Monday, and the abortion restrictions took effect immediately.

COURTS STEP IN AGAIN IN MONTANA

Montana Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a ban last week on dilation and evacuation abortions, which are normally performed in the second trimester of pregnancy. Within days, a judge temporarily blocked enforcement of the ban. On Tuesday, the judge issued a preliminary injunction, which blocks the law while the case moves its way through the courts.

The judge on Tuesday also granted to preliminary injunctions to one rule and several other laws.

The rule and one of the laws require prior authorization before Montana's Medicaid will pay for abortions. Another law says public funds cannot be used to pay for most abortions. And another requires an ultrasound before performing an abortion, which opponents say effectively blocks telehealth medication abortions in the state.

Those are not the only abortion restrictions in the state before the courts.

Montana in 2021 adopted a broader ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, but the state Supreme Court ruled that it will not enforce it pending a court challenge. That left some abortions legal until viability, around the 24th week.

GROUPS REACT TO SHIFTING TERRAIN

Planned Parenthood and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, groups on opposite sides of the abortion policy debates, both announced initiatives Tuesday.

The national Planned Parenthood group, a federation of regional organizations that share the name and provide abortion care, sexually transmitted infection tests, cancer screenings and other health services, announced a strategy shift. It is laying off 10% to 15% of its national staff and sending more money to its affiliates. The plan is to improve health equity for Black people and to bolster services both in states with bans and those that are serving more abortion-seeking patients traveling from places with bans.

The group's political arm also expects to focus on state politics.

Susan B. Anthony, a major opponent of abortion, announced it's working with Kellyanne Conway, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, to "get pro-life candidates on offense in the 2024 election cycle."

Last year, abortion access advocates prevailed on all six abortion-related statewide ballot initiatives in the U.S.

PURPLE STATE POLICY

Since the Supreme Court's Dobbs ruling, tighter abortion restrictions have been enacted in most Republican-controlled states and protections of abortion access have gone into effect in most that are dominated by Democrats.

In the 11 states where government control is divided between Republicans and Democrats, the story has not been so uniform. Virginia has kept its status quo, for instance, while Vermont has adopted a constitutional amendment to preserve abortion access and Louisiana and Kentucky have bans in place.

Video below: North Carolina GOP overrides veto of 12-week abortion limit

Change came quickly in North Carolina in April when one state lawmaker flipped from Democrat to Republican, giving the GOP enough votes to override gubernatorial vetoes.

Lawmakers promptly passed a ban that's less restrictive than most — allowing abortion for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed it. But lawmakers on May 16 overrode that veto, so the ban will take effect July 1.

The new law includes several other provisions that medical experts have criticized, including more medical and paperwork requirements for physicians, new licensing requirements for abortion clinics and increasing how many times patients must make an in-person visit to a physician ahead of obtaining the abortion pill.

COURT ARGUMENTS ON AN ABORTION PILL

Most of the legal battles on abortion since the Dobbs decision in 2022 have centered on whether individual state constitutions protect the right to abortion.

But at least one lawsuit has implications nationally.

An anti-abortion group sued seeking to rescind the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 2000 approval of mifepristone, one of two drugs used in combination in most medication-induced abortions in the U.S.

A federal judge in Texas agreed. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments last week. In the meantime, the U.S. Supreme Court has said that mifepristone can remain on the market. It is already barred from being used in abortions, with some exceptions, in states with bans in place.

It's not clear when the appeals court will rule. The case is expected to return to the nation's top court eventually. The Texas-based case could be merged with one in Washington, where another federal judge ruled last month that mifepristone restrictions cannot be rolled back in a group of Democrat-led states that filed lawsuits.

THE TALLY

Fourteen states currently have bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, one when cardiac activity can be detected around six weeks, and three at 12 to 15 weeks. Of those 17 states with the tightest restrictions, 12 do not have exceptions in cases of rape or incest. They all have exceptions to save the life of the woman in at least some circumstances.

Video below: Nebraska's governor signed abortions and transgender youth restrictions into law

At least six states have bans that courts have paused.

One more state, North Carolina, has a ban after 12 weeks of pregnancy that doesn't take effect until July 1.

The abortion bans also apply to prescribing pills to induce abortions. But only in South Carolina and Texas is it illegal to self-manage abortions.

In the video player above: Gender-affirming care further explained

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has highlighted efforts by Republican governors and statehouses across the country to embrace proposals limiting the rights of transgender people, signing new restrictions as he moves closer to a presidential bid.

The restrictions are spreading quickly despite criticism from medical groups and advocates who say they're further marginalizing transgender youth and threatening their health.

Here's what's happening:

FLORIDA'S RESTRICTIONS

DeSantis on Wednesday signed bills that ban gender-affirming care for minors, restrict pronoun use in schools and force people to use the bathroom corresponding with their sex assigned at birth in some cases.

DeSantis also signed new restrictions on drag shows that would allow the state to revoke the food and beverage licenses of businesses that admit children to adult performances. The DeSantis administration has moved to pull the liquor licenses of businesses that held drag shows, alleging children were present during lewd displays.

The rules on gender-affirming care also ban the use of state money for the care and place new restrictions on adults seeking treatment. They take effect immediately, along with the drag show restrictions. The bathroom and pronoun restrictions take effect July 1.

DeSantis has been an outspoken advocate for such restrictions, and championed a Florida law that restricts the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools. Florida has expanded that prohibition, which critics have dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" law, to all grades.

WHERE BANS STAND NATIONALLY

Hundreds of bills have been proposed this year restricting the rights of transgender people, and LGBTQ+ advocates say they've seen a record number of such measures in statehouses.

At least 17 states have now enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, South Dakota and West Virginia. Federal judges have blocked enforcement of laws in Alabama and Arkansas, and several other states are considering bills this year to restrict or ban care. Proposed bans are also pending before Texas and Missouri's governors.

These bans have spread quickly, with only three states enacting such laws before this year.

Before DeSantis signed the latest ban, Florida was one of two states that had restricted the care via regulations or administrative action. Texas's governor has ordered child welfare officials to investigate reports of children receiving such care as child abuse, though a judge has blocked those investigations.

Three transgender youth and their parents who are suing to block Florida's earlier ban on the care for minors expanded their challenge on Wednesday to include the prohibition DeSantis signed into law.

Every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, has opposed the bans and supported the medical care for youth when administered appropriately. Lawsuits have been filed in several of the states where the bans have been enacted this year.

STATES POISED TO ACT

A proposed ban on gender affirming care for minors is awaiting action before Republican Gov. Mike Parson in Missouri. The state's Republican attorney general, Andrew Bailey, this week withdrew a rule he had proposed that would have gone further by also restricting access to the care for adults.

Bailey cited the bill pending before Parson as a reason for eliminating the rule, which had been blocked by a state judge.

Nebraska Republicans on Tuesday folded a 12-week abortion ban into a bill that would ban gender affirming care for minors, potentially clearing the way for a final vote on the combined measure as early as this week.

Not all states are adopting restrictions, and some Democrat-led states are enacting measures aimed at protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ youth.

Michigan Democrats plan to introduce legislation Thursday that would ban conversion therapy for minors, a discredited practice of trying to "convert" people to heterosexuality.

The legislation is expected to move quickly with Democrats in control of all levels of state government. Democratic state Rep. Jason Hoskins, a sponsor of the bill, told The Associated Press that he hopes the legislation passes by the end of June, which is Pride Month.

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Associated Press writers Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee, Florida; Margery Beck in Lincoln, Nebraska; Margaret Stafford in Kansas City, Missouri; and Joey Cappelletti in Lansing, Michigan, contributed to this report.