Judge blocks Kentucky’s gender-affirming care ban from taking effect

A federal judge has blocked Kentucky's ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth from taking effect, upholding a challenge to the law that was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

United States District Court Judge David Hale for the Western District of Kentucky "sided with the ACLU of Kentucky on Wednesday in issuing the temporary injunction, keeping puberty blockers and hormone therapy legal and accessible to those under 18 in Kentucky while a larger lawsuit plays out," the Louisville Courier Journal reported.

The ACLU stated in May that "bills that ban essential medical care are not based on science or best practices and are not supported or endorsed by the leading major medical groups. These unconstitutional measures are political attacks from groups with a fundamental opposition to transgender people being able to live openly, freely, and affirmed as who they really are."

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Hale agreed with the ACLU.

"Based on the evidence submitted, the Court finds that the treatments barred by SB 150 are medically appropriate and necessary for some transgender children under the evidence-based standard of care accepted by all major medical organizations in the United States," Hale said.

Hale also determined that the medications which are demonized by right-wingers "have a long history of safe use in minors for various conditions" and that "it is undisputed that puberty-blockers and hormones are not given to prepubertal children with gender dysphoria."

Law Dork's Chris Geidner noted that Hale's fifteen-page decision "followed similar rulings this month out of Indiana and Florida, as well as rulings that reached similar conclusions after trial in Arkansas and Florida (specifically addressing Medicaid-related restrictions). A prior order in Alabama has similarly halted enforcement of that state's ban. Additionally, Oklahoma's attorney general has agreed not to enforce his state’s ban while preliminary injunction litigation is ongoing."

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Law Dork's full analysis continues at this link. The Courier Journal's report is here.