Latest news with #transgenderrights
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Judge OVERRULES Trump and tells prisons to keep giving trans inmates their meds in blockbuster decision
A judge has ruled the federal Bureau of Prisons must provide hormone therapy to transgender inmates after Donald Trump signed an executive order halting all treatments. Trump issued the order within hours of his inauguration in January forcing the federal government to only recognize two genders - male and female - as well as, house transgender women in men's prisons and not fund gender-affirming care. Several transgender prisoners sued the administration to have their treatments resumed. US District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled on Tuesday that federal law prohibits prison officials from arbitrarily depriving inmates of medications and other lifestyle accommodations that the bureau's medical staff has deemed appropriate. The judge said the transgender inmates who sued to block Trump's executive order are trying to lessen the personal anguish caused by their gender dysphoria, the distress that a person feels because their assigned gender and gender identity don´t match. 'In light of the plaintiffs' largely personal motives for undergoing gender-affirming care, neither the BOP nor the Executive Order provides any serious explanation as to why the treatment modalities covered by the Executive Order or implementing memoranda should be handled differently than any other mental health intervention,' Lamberth said. Trump's order required the bureau to revise its medical care policies so that federal funds aren't spent 'for the purpose of conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex.' There are approximately 1,500 federal prisoners who are transgender women and 750 transgender men, The New York Times reported. One of the plaintiffs, Alishea Kingdom, is a transgender woman who was prescribed hormone therapy injections and approved to receive social accommodations, including women's undergarments and cosmetics. Kingdom was denied her hormone shot three times after Trump signed his order, but she had it restored roughly a week after she sued. Her access to feminine undergarments hasn't been restored, according to the judge's ruling. 'In Ms. Kingdom's case, there is no indication at all that the BOP means to leave her hormone therapy in place long-term; indeed, as noted above, she was informed by BOP personnel that the decision to resume her treatment was a consequence of this litigation itself, raising the specter that her treatments might be discontinued as soon as the litigation has concluded,' Lamberth said. Trump's order also directed the Bureau of Prisons to ensure that 'males are not detained in women's prisons,' but Lamberth blocked prison officials from transferring three incarcerated transgender women to men's facilities in February. The judge said there's no evidence Trump or prison officials considered the harm the new policies could do to transgender inmates. 'The defendants argue that the plaintiffs have not alleged irreparable harm because they are all currently receiving hormone medications. But it suffices to say that all three plaintiffs' access to hormone therapy is, as best the Court can tell, tenuous,' Lamberth said. Trump signed several orders rolling back protections for transgender people, ruling that the two 'immutable sexes' are 'not changeable.' The orders directed federal prisons along with shelters for migrants and rape victims to be segregated by sex. He also directed federal money to be no longer be used to fund 'transition services.' Transgender inmates were federally protected under the Barack Obama Administration, before Trump appealed the policy during his first term. Obama's policy was later reenacted under the Joe Biden Administration and Trump once again appealing it. The president also demanded officials use the term 'sex' rather than 'gender.' Federal agencies were urged to end funding to promote 'gender ideology' and protect against 'gender extremism.' contacted the Justice Department for comment. The Bureau of Prisons declined to comment.
CNN
3 hours ago
- Health
- CNN
FBI wants to investigate doctors who provide gender-affirming care to minors. Experts question its legal basis
The Federal Bureau of Investigation began Pride month by asking Americans to report doctors, hospitals and clinics who offer gender-affirming surgeries to minors, claiming that those procedures amount to child mutilation. In social media posts Monday, the FBI and its chief spokesperson asked for tips on 'any hospitals or clinics who break the law and mutilate children under the guise of 'gender affirming care.'' But experts say the FBI's new push isn't backed up by federal law and may only be intended to scare medical practitioners away from offering those services. 'The only purpose of a tweet like this is to create fear and confusion for transgender youth, their families and their medical providers,' Josh Block, a senior attorney with the ACLU's LGBTQ & HIV Projects, told CNN. 'It simply has no legal basis.' The reporting initiative is among the most dramatic moves in a multipronged effort by President Donald Trump's administration to challenge gender-affirming care across the country, spawned by a January executive order that initiated a crackdown on what the president called 'chemical and surgical mutilation' of individuals under 19 years old. It also comes as the Trump administration broadly continues an anti-transgender agenda. The Justice Department on Monday, for instance, issued warnings to California school districts that have allowed transgender student athletes to play on sports teams that align with their gender identity. 'Today at work… put 1600+ California schools on blast for violating equal protection in girls' sports,' Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said on X. There is no federal law that outlaws gender-affirming surgeries on minors – a rare practice that is not recommended by major medical organizations. The Trump executive order instructed that the Justice Department prioritize enforcement actions under a criminal statute that protects against female genital mutilation. The FBI did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the legal backing for any future investigation. Federal prosecutors, however, have conceded in court that the female genital mutilation law 'differs markedly' from Trump's executive order, according to a ruling earlier this year from a federal judge who said that parts of the order targeting federal funding should be paused indefinitely. The judge, Lauren King, who was nominated by Joe Biden, said that gender-affirming surgery is considered medically necessary – a key legal hurdle when prosecuting someone for mutilation. She also noted that prosecutors 'acknowledge that non-surgical options 'are generally the only treatments minors can receive.'' Referencing that law in the executive order, King concluded, 'seems misplaced, and could be construed as a bad-faith attempt to make parents and providers fear prosecution.' Gender-affirming care for trans youth is largely focused on social aspects like names, pronouns and clothing. If a minor does move forward with any sort of medical intervention – treatment that is typically focused on medications whose effects are reversable instead of surgeries – a team of doctors and the child's family will consider what is appropriate for that child's needs and stage of development. 'A strong body of medical evidence supports the safety and efficacy of this care,' said Jennifer Levy, the senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLAD Law. 'These efforts make it more difficult for parents to secure the health care their children need to thrive.' Still, nearly 30 states have passed legislation banning gender-affirming medical care for people under 18 years old. Several of those states, including Alabama, Florida and North Carolina, are defending those bans in court. One of the challenges, which was brought over a Tennessee law that bans puberty blockers and other hormonal treatments for minors, is currently under consideration by the US Supreme Court. A decision is expected this month.
CNN
3 hours ago
- Health
- CNN
FBI wants to investigate doctors who provide gender-affirming care to minors. Experts question its legal basis
The Federal Bureau of Investigation began Pride month by asking Americans to report doctors, hospitals and clinics who offer gender-affirming surgeries to minors, claiming that those procedures amount to child mutilation. In social media posts Monday, the FBI and its chief spokesperson asked for tips on 'any hospitals or clinics who break the law and mutilate children under the guise of 'gender affirming care.'' But experts say the FBI's new push isn't backed up by federal law and may only be intended to scare medical practitioners away from offering those services. 'The only purpose of a tweet like this is to create fear and confusion for transgender youth, their families and their medical providers,' Josh Block, a senior attorney with the ACLU's LGBTQ & HIV Projects, told CNN. 'It simply has no legal basis.' The reporting initiative is among the most dramatic moves in a multipronged effort by President Donald Trump's administration to challenge gender-affirming care across the country, spawned by a January executive order that initiated a crackdown on what the president called 'chemical and surgical mutilation' of individuals under 19 years old. It also comes as the Trump administration broadly continues an anti-transgender agenda. The Justice Department on Monday, for instance, issued warnings to California school districts that have allowed transgender student athletes to play on sports teams that align with their gender identity. 'Today at work… put 1600+ California schools on blast for violating equal protection in girls' sports,' Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said on X. There is no federal law that outlaws gender-affirming surgeries on minors – a rare practice that is not recommended by major medical organizations. The Trump executive order instructed that the Justice Department prioritize enforcement actions under a criminal statute that protects against female genital mutilation. The FBI did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the legal backing for any future investigation. Federal prosecutors, however, have conceded in court that the female genital mutilation law 'differs markedly' from Trump's executive order, according to a ruling earlier this year from a federal judge who said that parts of the order targeting federal funding should be paused indefinitely. The judge, Lauren King, who was nominated by Joe Biden, said that gender-affirming surgery is considered medically necessary – a key legal hurdle when prosecuting someone for mutilation. She also noted that prosecutors 'acknowledge that non-surgical options 'are generally the only treatments minors can receive.'' Referencing that law in the executive order, King concluded, 'seems misplaced, and could be construed as a bad-faith attempt to make parents and providers fear prosecution.' Gender-affirming care for trans youth is largely focused on social aspects like names, pronouns and clothing. If a minor does move forward with any sort of medical intervention – treatment that is typically focused on medications whose effects are reversable instead of surgeries – a team of doctors and the child's family will consider what is appropriate for that child's needs and stage of development. 'A strong body of medical evidence supports the safety and efficacy of this care,' said Jennifer Levy, the senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLAD Law. 'These efforts make it more difficult for parents to secure the health care their children need to thrive.' Still, nearly 30 states have passed legislation banning gender-affirming medical care for people under 18 years old. Several of those states, including Alabama, Florida and North Carolina, are defending those bans in court. One of the challenges, which was brought over a Tennessee law that bans puberty blockers and other hormonal treatments for minors, is currently under consideration by the US Supreme Court. A decision is expected this month.
CNN
4 hours ago
- Health
- CNN
FBI wants to investigate doctors who provide gender-affirming care to minors. Experts question its legal basis
The Federal Bureau of Investigation began Pride month by asking Americans to report doctors, hospitals and clinics who offer gender-affirming surgeries to minors, claiming that those procedures amount to child mutilation. In social media posts Monday, the FBI and its chief spokesperson asked for tips on 'any hospitals or clinics who break the law and mutilate children under the guise of 'gender affirming care.'' But experts say the FBI's new push isn't backed up by federal law and may only be intended to scare medical practitioners away from offering those services. 'The only purpose of a tweet like this is to create fear and confusion for transgender youth, their families and their medical providers,' Josh Block, a senior attorney with the ACLU's LGBTQ & HIV Projects, told CNN. 'It simply has no legal basis.' The reporting initiative is among the most dramatic moves in a multipronged effort by President Donald Trump's administration to challenge gender-affirming care across the country, spawned by a January executive order that initiated a crackdown on what the president called 'chemical and surgical mutilation' of individuals under 19 years old. It also comes as the Trump administration broadly continues an anti-transgender agenda. The Justice Department on Monday, for instance, issued warnings to California school districts that have allowed transgender student athletes to play on sports teams that align with their gender identity. 'Today at work… put 1600+ California schools on blast for violating equal protection in girls' sports,' Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said on X. There is no federal law that outlaws gender-affirming surgeries on minors – a rare practice that is not recommended by major medical organizations. The Trump executive order instructed that the Justice Department prioritize enforcement actions under a criminal statute that protects against female genital mutilation. The FBI did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the legal backing for any future investigation. Federal prosecutors, however, have conceded in court that the female genital mutilation law 'differs markedly' from Trump's executive order, according to a ruling earlier this year from a federal judge who said that parts of the order targeting federal funding should be paused indefinitely. The judge, Lauren King, who was nominated by Joe Biden, said that gender-affirming surgery is considered medically necessary – a key legal hurdle when prosecuting someone for mutilation. She also noted that prosecutors 'acknowledge that non-surgical options 'are generally the only treatments minors can receive.'' Referencing that law in the executive order, King concluded, 'seems misplaced, and could be construed as a bad-faith attempt to make parents and providers fear prosecution.' Gender-affirming care for trans youth is largely focused on social aspects like names, pronouns and clothing. If a minor does move forward with any sort of medical intervention – treatment that is typically focused on medications whose effects are reversable instead of surgeries – a team of doctors and the child's family will consider what is appropriate for that child's needs and stage of development. 'A strong body of medical evidence supports the safety and efficacy of this care,' said Jennifer Levy, the senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLAD Law. 'These efforts make it more difficult for parents to secure the health care their children need to thrive.' Still, nearly 30 states have passed legislation banning gender-affirming medical care for people under 18 years old. Several of those states, including Alabama, Florida and North Carolina, are defending those bans in court. One of the challenges, which was brought over a Tennessee law that bans puberty blockers and other hormonal treatments for minors, is currently under consideration by the US Supreme Court. A decision is expected this month.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Prisons can't ‘blindly submit' to Trump's ‘whims' by denying gender-affirming care to trans inmates, judge says
A federal judge has blocked Donald Trump 's administration from denying gender-affirming care to transgender inmates, dealing another blow to the president's executive order targeting incarcerated trans people. Ronald Reagan-appointed Judge Royce Lamberth, 81, said Trump's policy isn't based on any 'reasoned' analysis, adding that 'nothing in the thin record' from the government shows that the administration 'consciously took stock of — much less studied — the potentially debilitating effects' of stripping trans people of their healthcare. He also slapped down the government's arguments that courts should allow Trump to dictate how federal agencies are run by letting the 'democratic process' play out after the election. 'Democracy is not as simple as the defendants make it sound,' Lamberth wrote. Just as the president can issue an executive order telling agencies what to do, he must abide by the Administrative Procedure Act that governs how they operate, Lamberth said. 'If democratic self-governance means anything, it means giving effect to all duly enacted laws, including those — like the APA — that were enacted decades ago,' he wrote. 'It does not mean blind submission to the whims of the most recent election-victor.' Tuesday's ruling is the first among several court orders surrounding Trump's approach to trans inmates that blocks prison officials from carrying out his executive order altogether. Trump's order also ordered trans women from women's detention centers. Several lawsuits were filed to reverse the move. Trans women make up only a small fraction of the federal prison population in women's facilities — approximately 16 people, according to the Department of Justice. More than 2,230 trans inmates in federal facilities are detained in facilities that match their sex at birth, according to court filings. In his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order denying 'any medical procedure, treatment, or drug for the purpose of conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex.' The policy also blocked trans inmates from buying clothing or commissary items that prison officials claimed are inconsistent with a person's sex at birth. Trump's far-reaching executive orders targeting trans people claim that an ideologically driven movement to 'deny the biological reality of sex' has a 'corrosive impact not just on women but on the validity of the entire American system.' Plaintiffs include two trans men and a trans woman who were denied hormone therapy as well as items such as chest binders, cosmetics and underwear. All three plaintiffs were diagnosed with gender dysphoria by Bureau of Prisons physicians, and prescribed hormone therapy, but those treatments were suspended under Trump's policy. The loss of hormone therapy for a trans woman who has been prescribed injections since 2016 caused her to experience 'anxiety, hopelessness, panic attacks, and suicidal ideation,' according to court filings. Trans men who were denied ongoing testosterone treatments said they feared their menstrual cycles would return. Plaintiffs argue Trump's policy violates the Eighth Amendment 's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. In his ruling, Lamberth said trans people receiving hormone treatments 'do not seem interested in propagating any particular 'ideology.'' Trans inmates rely on those treatments to 'lessen the personal anguish caused by their gender dysphoria, a benefit on which they have relied for years' under longstanding Bureau of Prisons policy, according to the judge. He wrote that the administration did not provide 'any serious explanation' why the policy should change, and the executive order doesn't make 'any effort whatsoever' to explain how — as the president includes in the order — gender-affirming care damages 'scientific inquiry, public safety, morale, trust in government.' 'This administration's cruelty towards transgender people disregards their rights under the Constitution,' said Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the ACLU 's National Prison Project. 'No person — incarcerated or not, transgender or not — should have their rights to medically necessary care denied,' added Shawn Thomas Meerkamper, managing attorney at the Transgender Law Center.
