“This law would be devastating to trans youth and their families, forcing many to uproot their lives and leave the state to access the gender-affirming care they need."
Towleroad Gay News
The American Civil Liberties Union followed through on its promise to file a legal challenge to Arkansas’ newly signed law that prohibits gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth on Tuesday.
The ACLU filed suit in federal court against Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and the entire state medical board, including Arkansas State Medical Board executive director Amy E. Embry, on behalf of four trans youth and their families and two doctors. The lawsuit challenges that the trans-exclusionary bill, HB 1570, violates the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment.
“[HB 1570] violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because it discriminates on the basis of sex and transgender status by prohibiting certain medical treatments only for transgender patients and only when the care is ‘related to gender transition, ” the ACLU said in its complaint. “This discrimination cannot be justified under heightened scrutiny or any level of equa
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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.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit Tuesday (May 25) 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.