A recent lawsuit filed in Baltimore federal court is challenging the Trump administration's ban on transgender treatments for minors. Legal expert Sarah Marshall Perry of the Heritage Foundation warns that this lawsuit is just the beginning of potential legal battles in the coming months.
Perry highlighted the significant financial stakes involved, estimating the industry to be worth $5 billion annually. She suggested that proponents of gender-affirming medical care may seek coverage through private insurers like Cigna or Blue Cross Blue Shield, leveraging their substantial lobbying power.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to delay the implementation of President Trump's recent executive order, which directed institutions receiving federal grants to cease gender-affirming medical care for individuals under nineteen.
The plaintiffs argue that the executive orders are unlawful and unconstitutional, contending that Congress holds the power of the purse. Perry countered by asserting that federal coverage for gender-related procedures for minors was based on a misinterpretation of the Supreme Court's 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County.
She referenced a federal judge's ruling against President Biden's re-interpretation of Title IX, emphasizing the pushback against gender identity policies in various federal statutes. Perry commended Trump's actions as a proactive measure to address what she views as harmful effects on minor children.
The lawsuit is part of a series of legal challenges against Trump's gender-related executive orders, which include reinstating the ban on transgender troops in the military and restricting federal funding for sex changes for minors.
The Supreme Court is set to rule on a significant case regarding a Tennessee law that could determine the permissibility of gender transition procedures for minors.
While the White House declined to comment on the pending litigation, Trump's administration has made combating what he terms 'radical gender ideology' a key focus. The ongoing legal battles underscore the contentious nature of policies surrounding transgender rights and medical care for minors.
