A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked Donald Trump’s recent executive order aimed at limiting gender-affirming healthcare for transgender people under the age of 19.
The ruling was a victory for trans and non-binary youth and their families who filed lawsuits after submitting medical care, by the president’s order. Trump’s policy said federal funding should be revoked from hospitals and clinics that provide gender-affirming care to young people under the age of 19.
This order targeted hormone therapy and adolescent blockers, which were considered essential for trans patients who prescribed these treatments.
Even in blue states that have laws that advocate trans rights and advocate for youth access to gender-affirming care, some agencies have quickly become accustomed to treat them in New York, Colorado, Virginia, California, Washington, DC, and more. It has been paused.
Biden-appointed Judge Brendan Herson granted the plaintiff’s request for a temporary restraining order following a hearing in federal court in Baltimore. The ruling will remain in effect for 14 days and essentially put Trump’s order on hold while the case is ongoing. The suppression order can also be extended.
Trump’s order “is denying that this population even exists or seems worthy of it,” Herson said. The lawsuit was brought by civil rights groups Lambda Legal and ACLU and filed on behalf of a national group representing families of healthcare providers dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth and transhealth equity.
“We’re one of the LGBTQ+ groups,” said Brian K Bond, CEO of PFLAG National. Plaintiff, in a statement Thursday. “Today’s decision-making is a terrible mistake for families and children in our country, and PFLAG families will ensure that transgender loved ones receive the health care they need, as this legal ruling requires. I’m being wary for that.”
It was not immediately clear whether the institution that suspended treatment would reverse courses.
Although only a small percentage of American youth are trans and access gender-affirming care, treatment is considered a standard of care approved by all American healthcare associations. Care is associated with improved mental health and lower suicide.
The lawsuit included accounts of families who were scheduled to begin treatment after a long fight process for access to care. One family has moved from their Tennessee homeland after lawmakers banned gender-affirming care and was blocked by access treatment in Virginia, after being blocked by Trump’s order.
The family lawyers argued that order and rejection of care were unconstitutional, discriminatory and violated the rights of parents. This policy allows Cisgender children to continue receiving the same treatment they were rejected by trans young people. Doctors were able to prescribe testosterone to CIS for boys who were late in adolescence, but were unable to provide the same medication to trans boys to affirm their gender, for example.
The lawsuit also argued that Trump cannot withhold federal funds previously permitted by Congress.
“We hope that these agencies will soon return to the care they need and the lives they need,” said a mental health care provider that deals with trans youth at agencies that have suspended treatment in accordance with order. They requested anonymity as they were not allowed to speak up by their employers.
The provider said trans patients are upset by the order and interruption of care. To survive with the idea that they may not be themselves in the way they feel safe. Every day I talk to my parents who cry in pain.
Trump is actively rolling back the trans rights that the Biden administration was trying to expand. Through his campaign, and since he returned to the White House, Trump has repeatedly spread misinformed about trans youth and their health care, falsely saying that youths have been undergoing sex-affirming surgery through school. It claims.
Shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order directing a federally operated insurance program to rule out coverage for gender maintenance care. This includes Medicaid, which covers such services in some states, and Tricare for military families. Trump’s order called on the Justice Department to actively pursue litigation and law to oppose the health care.
