North Dakota’s ban on gender-affirming care for kids heads to trial

A lawsuit against North Dakota’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors is set to go to trial. Families argue the law violates the state constitution.

The ban, signed into law by then-Gov. Doug Burgum in April 2023, makes it a misdemeanor for providers to prescribe hormone treatments to transgender children.

The trial in Bismarck is expected to last eight days, with significant court rulings reducing the scope of the case since it was filed in late 2023.

Lead counsel Brittany Stewart stated that the law harms children by banning medically supported care for transgender youths.