Federal court rejects families’ appeal against law that criminalizes gender-affirming treatments
Alabama law criminalizes the provision of gender-affirming treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and surgeries to transgender youth under the age of 19, imposing penalties of up to 10 years in prison for health care professionals who perform these procedures.
Federal Judge Robin S. Rosenbaum criticized the ruling as “wrong and dangerous” and warned of the precedent it could set by allowing states to ban essential medical treatments for arbitrary reasons.
Despite the negative impact of the ruling, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall welcomed the law’s upholding, saying it protects children from “life-altering chemical and surgical procedures.” In contrast, attorneys for the families involved in the lawsuit condemned the ruling, arguing that medical decisions should be made by families, not the government, and highlighted the proven benefits of treatments for trans teens.
The law’s retention comes amid a broader context of growing legislative pressure on the LGBTQIA+ community in the US, with more than 250 new anti-LGBT+ bills introduced in the first few weeks of 2024 alone, many of which specifically target trans people.
By Ezatamentchy
Source: Maxima
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