Seven families with transgender or nonbinary children have taken legal action against President Donald Trump's recent executive orders, which aim to narrowly define sexes and cease federal support for gender-affirming health care for transgender individuals under 19 years old. The lawsuit, filed in a Baltimore federal court, includes plaintiffs such as PFLAG, a national LGBTQ+ family support group, and GLMA, a doctors organization.
Trump's order, signed just a week prior, directed the federal government to halt funding for gender-affirming medical care under programs like Medicaid and TRICARE. This move has left families like Kristen Chapman's in distress. Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee to Virginia due to a ban on gender-affirming care, shared her disappointment after her daughter's care appointment was canceled following Trump's order.
The ACLU and Lambda Legal, representing the plaintiffs, argue that Trump's orders are unlawful and unconstitutional, as they seek to withhold previously authorized federal funds and violate antidiscrimination laws. They also claim that the policy infringes on parental rights and discriminates against gender-affirming treatments.
Health providers are grappling with the implications of the order, with some pausing coverage while others, like New York Attorney General Letitia James, affirm the legality of continuing gender-affirming care for minors. The legal challenge aims to put Trump's order on hold and ensure that medical providers adhere to established standards for transgender youth care.
Trump's stance on transgender policies sharply contrasts with the Biden administration's efforts to extend civil rights protections to transgender individuals. The battle over gender-affirming care is just one aspect of Trump's broader agenda, which includes potential bans on transgender military service and changes to gender education in schools.
Despite the challenges faced by transgender individuals seeking care, research shows that only a small fraction of adolescents actually receive gender-affirming treatments. The legal landscape surrounding transgender rights remains contentious, with numerous states passing laws to restrict or prohibit such care for minors.
As the legal battle unfolds, the future of gender-affirming care and transgender rights in the U.S. hangs in the balance, awaiting judicial decisions on the constitutionality of these policies.
