A federal judge has issued a ruling blocking a Kentucky state bill that would prohibit transgender care for minors. The judge found that the bill violates the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights. Kentucky Senate Bill 150, which was passed into law in March despite Governor Andy Beshear’s veto, aims to regulate various aspects of transgender young people’s lives, including bathroom usage and access to gender-affirming health care. Seven transgender minors and their parents filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that the bill violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection and due process clauses. The ACLU and the National Center for Lesbian Rights represented the plaintiffs in the case.
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky determined that the treatments prohibited by SB 150 are medically necessary and appropriate for some transgender children, according to evidence-based standards of care endorsed by major medical organizations in the country. The judge’s ruling stated that puberty blockers and hormones have a long history of safe use in minors and are not administered to prepubertal children with gender dysphoria. The judge also found that the law, regardless of its stated purpose, would enforce gender conformity, thus violating the equal protection clause.
The court agreed with the plaintiffs’ arguments that gender-affirming treatments had significantly improved the conditions of the minor plaintiffs, and discontinuation of these treatments would have serious consequences, including severe psychological distress and the need to relocate. The court clarified that the decision does not mandate any child to undergo puberty blockers or hormones, but rather allows such treatments for patients whose parents and healthcare providers deem them appropriate according to the standard of care.
Corey Shapiro, the ACLU-KY’s legal director, hailed the ruling as a victory but emphasized that it is just the first step. He pledged to continue fighting for families’ rights to make private medical decisions and to ensure permanent access to medical care in Kentucky. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron criticized the ruling, describing it as misguided. Cameron argued that Senate Bill 150 is a necessary law that safeguards Kentucky children from experimental treatments and hormone therapies that pose risks to mental health.
Governor Beshear had previously vetoed the bill, expressing concerns about government interference in personal healthcare decisions and the potential increase in youth suicide as a result of the legislation. He warned that Senate Bill 150 endangers the well-being of Kentucky’s children. Despite the ruling, the legal battle over transgender care for minors is expected to continue in Kentucky.
In conclusion, a federal judge has invalidated a Kentucky state bill that sought to ban transgender care for minors, citing constitutional violations. This ruling not only protects the rights of transgender youth but also recognizes the medical necessity of gender-affirming treatments. The decision is a significant step towards securing access to healthcare for transgender individuals in Kentucky.
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