GenderAffirming

Supreme Court to Review Tennessee’s Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors on December 4

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Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court has scheduled December 4 to review a contentious case regarding a Tennessee law that prohibits gender-affirming medical procedures for minors. This case, invoking legal challenges from multiple civil rights organizations, including the ACLU and Lambda Legal, targets the legislation signed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee in 2023. The law in question, Senate Bill 1, explicitly bars healthcare providers from administering gender-affirming surgeries or prescribing hormone therapies and puberty blockers to individuals under the age of 18. Advocates for the bill argue that minors are not equipped to make … Read more

Federal Court Rules Indiana Must Provide Gender-Affirming Surgery to Incarcerated Transgender Woman

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Indianapolis, IN — A recent court ruling has spotlighted ongoing debates over transgender rights and medical care in the prison system. U.S. District Judge Richard Young ruled that the refusal to provide gender-affirming surgery to Autumn Cordellionè, a transgender inmate, is unconstitutional. Cordellionè, formerly known as Jonathan C. Richardson, is serving a 55-year sentence for the 2001 strangulation death of her 11-month-old stepdaughter. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) took up Cordellionè’s case, arguing that denying the surgery violated the Eighth Amendment, which guards against cruel and unusual punishment. They filed the lawsuit against the … Read more

South Carolina’s Recent Gender-Affirming Care Legislation Prompted by Federal Lawsuit

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Columbia, SC — South Carolina’s newest legislation restricting gender-affirming care for minors has come under fire, triggering a federal lawsuit that challenges the law’s constitutionality. Filed by a coalition of civil rights organizations and families affected by the ban, the lawsuit argues that the law discriminates unjustly against transgender youths, violating both their constitutional rights and the Equal Protection Clause. Governor Henry McMaster, who recently signed the bill into law, has asserted that the intention behind this measure is to protect minors from undergoing irreversible medical procedures. However, critics argue that the new law interferes … Read more

Maine Implements New Shield Law to Safeguard Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Healthcare Starting Friday

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AUGUSTA, Maine — A new law in Maine comes into effect on Friday, establishing robust protections for individuals seeking reproductive health services or gender-affirming care. This legislation makes Maine one of the states at the forefront of shielding patients and healthcare providers from out-of-state legal actions amid growing national tensions surrounding these issues. The law, known informally as the shield law, is designed to ensure that Maine remains a safe haven for reproductive rights and transgender health care. It prevents public agencies from cooperating with interstate investigations aimed at imposing liabilities on Maine-based health professionals … Read more