Federal judge permanently blocks Arkansas law banning transgender procedures for minors, AG will appeal

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

An Arkansas law that banned medical procedures for transgender patients under the age of 18 was permanently blocked by U.S. District Judge Jay Moody on Tuesday (June 20). Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said he would appeal the decision.

The Save Adolescents From Experimentation Act (SAFE Act) was passed by the state legislature in 2021 by overwhelming margins, but then-Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed the measure saying it was “overbroad” and “a vast government overreach.” The legislature overrode his veto, putting the law in effect before it was challenged in court.

The federal lawsuit was brought by several families of transgender children who claimed the SAFE Act violated the 14th Amendment right to equal protection under the law and their 1st Amendment right to free speech. The defendants included then-Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and members of the Arkansas Medical Board.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/06/federal-judge-permanently-blocks-arkansas-law-banning-transgender-procedures-for-minors-ag-will-appeal/

Lawmakers Override Governor's Veto, Ban Gender-Affirming Care to Trans Youth

By JACQUELINE FROELICH

Since Gov. Asa Hutchinson's briefing Monday afternoon, Arkansas lawmakers have overturned his veto of the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act, which bans gender-affirming medical care to transgender minors. During the media conference, Hutchinson said the bill is "extreme" and an overreach of government.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/lawmakers-override-governors-veto-ban-gender-affirming-care-trans-youth

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced his decision to veto the SAFE Act at a media conference in Little Rock Monday.

COURTESY / YOUTUBE

Arkansas Senate Passes Transgender Youth Medical Care Ban

By DANIEL BREEN

A bill banning gender-affirming medical care for Arkansans under 18 is now one step away from becoming law.

The Senate on Monday passed House Bill 1570, which bans transgender youth from obtaining gender transition care, like puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The bill, called the Save Adolescents from Experimentation, or SAFE, Act, would open physicians up to civil litigation and licensure penalties for providing gender-transition related therapies, including surgery, to minors.

Republican Sen. Alan Clark of Hot Springs, a co-sponsor of the bill, presented it on the Senate floor.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-senate-passes-transgender-youth-medical-care-ban

Advocates for transgender youth, including actress Laverne Cox (top, center), urge Gov. Asa Hutchinson not to approve HB1570 in a news conference held by the ACLU.

CREDIT ACLU / ZOOM