GenderAffirming

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

Ohio Court Rules to Maintain Ban on Gender-Affirming Treatments for Minors

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Columbus, Ohio — A recent ruling by an Ohio judge has sustained a prohibition on gender-affirming care for minors in the state, marking a significant moment in the ongoing debate over transgender rights and medical ethics. The decision, which has ignited both support and criticism, underscores the complex legal and social landscapes surrounding gender identity and youth. The enforcement of this ban effectively restricts access to various medical treatments for transgender minors, including hormone therapies and surgical procedures that have been increasingly recognized as standard care by major medical organizations. The prohibition extends to both … Read more

Justice Department and Transgender Youth Challenge Alabama’s Gender-Affirming Care Ban, Citing Misrepresented Facts

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MONTGOMMERY, Ala. — The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, together with transgender youth and their families, has challenged the factual basis of the Alabama attorney general’s motion for a prompt legal resolution in ongoing litigation over the state’s 2025 regulation that bans gender-affirming care for minors. This law, established in 2022, criminalizes the provision of puberty blockers and hormones to individuals under 19, alongside banning genital surgeries, which medical professionals confirm are not performed on minors in the state. The plaintiffs contend that the motion for summary judgment, a request to resolve a case … Read more

Washington and Idaho Tackle LGBTQ+ Hate Crimes and Gender-Affirming Care with New Legislation

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Spokane, Washington and Boise, Idaho have taken vastly different approaches when it comes to addressing issues impacting LGBTQ+ communities. The divergent paths taken by lawmakers in these neighboring states highlight the ongoing battles over LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination. Idaho made headlines in its recent legislative session when it passed House Bill 71, a controversial measure that restricts transgender minors from obtaining gender-affirming care. The law, slated to go into effect on January 1, has faced legal challenges over its constitutionality, effectively delaying its enforcement for now. Meanwhile, across the border in Washington, state legislators have … Read more