Indiana law banning gender-affirming care for minors to remain in effect

[Lauren Taylor]

A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT RULED THIS WEEK AN INDIANA LAW BANNING GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR MINORS CAN REMAIN IN EFFECT. A PANEL OF JUDGES ON THE 7TH U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS REJECTED AN APPEAL FILED BY THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION (ACLU) TO BLOCK THE LAW FROM TAKING EFFECT.

THE LAW PROHIBITS PHYSICIANS FROM KNOWINGLY PROVIDING GENDER TRANSITION PROCEDURES TO A PERSON YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS OF AGE AND.

REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SIGNED THE LAW IN APRIL 2023.

THE ACLU ARGUED THE LAW “PROHIBITS HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS FROM PROVIDING OR EVEN REFERRING TRANSGENDER YOUNG PEOPLE FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTH CARE.” AND  FILED A REQUEST FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION – WHICH A DISTRICT COURT GRANTED.

THEN IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, AN APPEALS COURT IN CHICAGO REMOVED THE TEMPORARY INJUNCTION.

THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS DECISION WEDNESDAY ALLOWS STATE OFFICIALS THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THE BAN.

INDIANA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL POSTED A STATEMENT ON X SAYING THE CIRCUIT COURT PANEL’S DECISION IS “A HUGE WIN FOR HOOSIERS” AND WILL HELP PROTECT CHILDREN WRITING QUOTE “BY REJECTING THE INJUNCTION AGAINST OUR COMMONSENSE STATE LAW, DANGEROUS AND IRREVERSIBLE GENDER-TRANSITION PROCEDURES FOR MINORS WILL REMAIN BANNED IN INDIANA.”

IF THE DECISION WILL BE APPEALED IS UP IN THE AIR AT THE MOMENT…

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE ACLU TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE ORGANIZATION IS WEIGHING THEIR OPTIONS.