A federal judge in Georgia has issued a temporary block on a law that prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Judge Sarah E. Geraghty’s ruling on Sunday stated that the ban on hormone therapy is likely to violate the Equal Protection Clause. The plaintiffs, four anonymous transgender children and their parents, have shown a strong chance of success in their case, and minors will be allowed to receive the treatment while the litigation progresses. The judge acknowledged the potential harm that these minors could face without the treatment, including depression, anxiety, disordered eating, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts.
The Georgia law includes two main provisions: a ban on hormone replacement therapies and sex reassignment surgeries for minors. Medical providers found to violate the law risk losing their licenses. However, the initial complaint only addressed hormone therapy and did not mention surgery.
The lawsuit argues that the ban infringes on parents’ rights to make healthcare decisions for their children and deprives them of appropriate medical treatment for gender dysphoria.
The state argued that any injunction should be limited to the children involved in the lawsuit. Judge Geraghty rejected this proposition, stating that a narrow injunction would be impractical and could compromise the plaintiffs’ anonymity.
The bill, passed by the Republican-controlled Georgia state Legislature in March and signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp, is part of a larger trend of GOP-led states passing legislation targeting transgender care for minors. Many of these laws have faced legal challenges.
In response to the ruling, the plaintiffs’ attorneys hailed it as a victory for parents and a rejection of a harmful and prejudiced law that targets transgender minors.
This ruling adds to the ongoing debate surrounding transgender healthcare for minors, as similar bans have been challenged and blocked in some states while others have been approved.
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