U.S. Appeals Court upholds ban on Arkansas’ law blocking gender transition

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

The 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Thursday (Aug. 25) upheld a preliminary injunction against an Arkansas law that bans gender transition procedures for those under age 18. Plaintiffs say the law, Act 626, violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause.

Act 626 prohibits physicians and health care professionals from providing gender transition procedures to individuals under age 18, or to refer minors to other health care professionals. It also prohibits the use of public funds or insurance coverage for gender transition procedures. It does not prohibit services for persons born with a “medically verifiable disorder of sex development,” such as external biological sex characteristics.

The law was the first in the nation to block medical procedures for gender transition. Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed the bill, but the Legislature overrode the veto.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/08/u-s-appeals-court-upholds-ban-on-arkansas-law-blocking-gender-transition/

Judge Blocks Ban On Transgender Arkansas Youth From Transition-Related Health Care

By SARAH KELLOGG

A law that bans transgender Arkansans younger than 18 from accessing transition-related health care, has been blocked from becoming law.

U.S. District Judge Jay Moody issued the ruling Wednesday blocking the enforcement of Act 626, which would have been gone into effect on July 28. The act blocks any transgender child from seeking or accessing health care related to their transition, such as puberty blockers, even with consent from parents or medical professionals.

The ACLU filed the lawsuit in May on the behalf of four Arkansas transgender youth and their families as well as two medical professionals in Arkansas who treat transgender youth. 

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/judge-blocks-ban-transgender-arkansas-youth-transition-related-health-care

Chase Strangio with the ACLU speaks to reporters after the ruling.

CREDIT ACLU OF ARKANSAS

Governor Hutchinson Issues Statement on District Court Decision to Grant Preliminary Injunction of Act 626

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson issued the following statement on the U.S. District Court's decision to grant a preliminary injunction of Act 626.

“While this is a preliminary ruling, it appears the act will be struck down as unconstitutional for the same reason that I vetoed it. The act was too extreme and did not provide any relief for those young people currently undergoing hormone treatment with the consent of their parents and under the care of a physician. If the act would have been more limited, such as prohibiting sex reassignment surgery for those under 18, then I suspect the outcome would have been different.”

ACLU Files Promised Lawsuit Over Arkansas' Transgender Care Ban

By STEVE BRAWNER / TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS

The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit Tuesday against the state of Arkansas over a newly passed law that prohibits health care professionals from providing gender-transition procedures to individuals under age 18.

The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court Eastern District against Act 626 was filed on behalf of four transgender youth and their families along with two doctors. It alleges the law violates the U.S. Constitution.

Act 626 prohibits physicians and health care professionals from providing gender transition procedures to individuals under age 18, or to refer minors to other health care professionals. It also prohibits the use of public funds or insurance coverage for gender transition procedures. It does not prohibit services for persons born with a “medically verifiable disorder of sex development,” such as external biological sex characteristics.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/aclu-files-promised-lawsuit-over-arkansas-transgender-care-ban

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/05/aclu-files-suit-over-states-transgender-care-ban/

CREDIT FLICKR.COM