Aug 21 (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court has revived an Alabama law backed by Republicans, which prohibits the use of puberty-blocking drugs and hormones to treat gender dysphoria in transgender minors. This decision comes a day after a judge blocked a similar law in Georgia.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, with a panel of three judges appointed by former President Donald Trump, stated that the challengers of the law failed to establish a constitutional right for parents to use “transitioning medications subject to medically accepted standards” for their children. U.S. Circuit Judge Barbara Lagoa, who wrote for the panel, highlighted Alabama’s interest in safeguarding children from drugs with uncertain benefits and irreversible effects.
Legal organizations representing the plaintiffs, including GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders and Human Rights Campaign, expressed disappointment, stating that the decision would expose transgender minors to irreparable harm by depriving them of necessary medical care.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall welcomed the ruling, emphasizing the state’s authority to protect minors’ well-being.
This ruling follows a similar decision in Georgia, where a judge halted a comparable law, calling it discriminatory against transgender minors. The case has implications for the broader debate on gender-affirming care for transgender youth and may eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.