Federal judge permanently strikes down Arkansas trans youth treatment ban

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

A federal judge has permanently struck down an Arkansas law banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge James Moody Jr. on Tuesday says Arkansas violated its citizens’ constitutional rights to equal protection when it banned all gender-affirming treatments for people under 18.

The 80-page ruling says depriving trans minors of treatments like hormone therapy would cause them irreparable harm, and that delaying care until adulthood would force teens to go through changes inconsistent with their gender identity.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/2023-06-20/federal-judge-permanently-strikes-down-arkansas-trans-youth-treatment-ban

Andrew DeMillo/AP

Dylan Brandt speaks at a news conference outside the federal courthouse in Little Rock, Ark., on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Brandt, 15, has been receiving hormone treatments and is among several transgender youth who challenged a state law banning gender confirming care for trans minors.

First in the nation gender-affirming care ban struck down in Arkansas

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Updated June 20, 2023 at 9:58 PM ET

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A federal judge has permanently blocked the country's first law banning gender-affirming care for minors, signaling a victory for LGBTQ advocates.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge James Moody Jr. on Tuesday says the state of Arkansas violated several sections of the U.S. Constitution when it banned all gender-affirming treatments for people under 18. The 80-page ruling says depriving trans minors of treatments like hormone therapy would cause them irreparable harm, and that delaying care until adulthood would force teens to go through changes inconsistent with their gender identity.

The verdict comes after an eight-day trial in December, where several of the state's witnesses admitted they didn't have experience treating transgender teens, and offered no evidence to dispute decades of scientific research.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-06-20/first-in-the-nation-gender-affirming-care-ban-struck-down-in-arkansas

Danny Johnston/AP

On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 a federal judge blocked Arkansas' ban on gender-affirming care for minors. In this photo, opponents of a religious freedom bill gather at the Arkansas state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., Thursday, April 2, 2015.

Governor Hutchinson Announces Opposition To Proposed Rules Undermining Women’s Sports

In a news conference on Thursday afternoon, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced his opposition to proposed amendments to the regulations on implementing Title IX.

"The proposed rules would make it clear that sexual orientation and gender identity are both covered under the non-discrimination laws for our schools," Governor Hutchinson said. "This would interfere with Arkansas law, it would interfere with common sense, and it would interfere with local control."

Governor Hutchinson said the proposed changes would violate Arkansas law that prohibits biological males from competing in women's sports. He announced Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has filed a response with other Attorneys General opposing the new rules.

Secretary Johnny Key and the Department of Education have also joined other states in presenting comments opposing these proposed rules.

"These proposed amendments of the Biden administration not only fly in the face of well-established law but in the face of reason and the intent of Congress," Governor Hutchinson said. "The state of Arkansas will not stand by idly while the federal government seeks to redefine the law to the detriment of women's sports and local decision making."