The Cincinnati, Ohio-based Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has allowed Tennessee and Kentucky to enforce laws banning gender-affirming medical care for minors, such as puberty blockers, hormones and surgery, Reuters reported.
The ruling is the second by a federal appeals court upholding such statutes, after the 11th Circuit ruling revived an Alabama law.
U.S. medical associations have stated that gender-affirming care is appropriate and potentially life-saving treatment for gender dysphoria. However, the 6th Circuit panel sided with proponents of the healthcare bans who say the treatments are unproven and risk permanently harming children.
Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Tennessee, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLPwho represented the families challenging Tennessee's bansaid, "This is a devastating result for transgender youth and their families in Tennessee and across the region. The disastrous impact of Tennessee's law and all others like it has already been felt in thousands of homes and communities.
"Denying transgender youth equality before the law and needlessly withholding the necessary medical care their families and their doctors know is right for them has caused and will continue to cause serious harm. We are assessing our next steps and will take further action in defense of our clients and the constitutional rights of transgender people in Tennessee and across the country."
Andrew Davis