Federal Judge Blocks Kentucky Law Banning Transgender Care For Minors
A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked part of a Kentucky state law that would have banned the prescription and administration of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender people younger than 18, just hours before the full ban was set to go into effect.
U.S. District Judge David Hale sided with the ACLU of Kentucky on Wednesday in issuing the temporary injunction, noting that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their challenge to the law on constitutional grounds. “After careful consideration, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have shown a strong likelihood of success on the merits of their constitutional challenges to (Senate Bill 150) and otherwise meet the requirements for preliminary injunctive relief,” Hale ruled Wednesday afternoon.
The ACLU of Kentucky, along with the National Center for Lesbian Rights and law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, filed suit in early May on behalf of transgender children and their parents, arguing Senate Bill 150’s bans on gender-affirming health care are unconstitutional.
They contend that the bill unfairly singles out trans kids by blocking access to medical care that cisgender kids can receive.
