Justice Department challenging Tennessee’s anti-trans SB 1
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, left, and U.S. Attorney Henry Leventis The U.S. Justice Department has filed a complaint challenging Tennessee Senate Bill 11, the recently-enacted law banning gender-affirming care to transgender minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria, according to a “breaking news” statement released at about 6:30 p.m.
today (Wednesday, April 25). SB 1 “denies necessary medical care to youth based solely on who they are,” the press release says, adding that the Justice Department complaint “alleges that SB 1’s ban on providing certain medically necessary care to transgender minors violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.” The Justice Department has also asked the court to issue an immediate order to prevent the law from going into effect on July 1, 2023. “SB 1’s blanket ban prohibits potential treatment options that have been recommended by major medical associations for consideration in limited circumstances in accordance with established and comprehensive guidelines and standards of care,” the press release says. “By denying only transgender youth access to these forms of medically necessary care while allowing non-transgender minors access to the same or similar procedures, SB 1 discriminates against transgender youth.” The Justice Department complaint alleges that SB 1 violates the Equal Protection Clause by discriminating on the basis of both sex and transgender status.
And, the press release points out, doctors, parents “and anyone else who provides or offers to provide the prohibited care faces the possibility of civil suits for 30 years and other sanctions.” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said, “No person
