Supreme Court Approves State Law Banning Trans Surgery On Minors
By Bo Beard | April 26, 2024
Double mastectomies
The Supreme Court made a ruling allowing an Idaho law aimed at preventing children from undergoing life-changing transgender procedures to be enforced while it undergoes legal challenges in lower courts.
The law, which was enacted last year, prohibits treatments such as double mastectomies for girls identifying as boys and the administration of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children. These treatments have been associated with issues related to bone development and heart health.
10 years in prison
The law imposes a penalty of up to 10 years in prison for doctors who carry out transgender procedures on minors. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the law will be implemented in Idaho, with the exception of two families who have filed a lawsuit, supported by the ACLU, arguing that the law is discriminatory as their children identify as transgender.
Idaho Attorney General
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn a broad injunction imposed on the state’s law, which was completely blocked by a federal judge.
Justices
Justices Neil Gorsuch, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett supported Labrador’s appeal, while Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan dissented.
Excessive decision
Gorsuch criticized Judge B. Lynn Winmill for what he viewed as an excessive decision in halting Idaho’s law in December.
Interim relief
“Ordinarily, injunctions like these may go no further than necessary to provide interim relief to the parties,” he wrote. “In this case, however, the district court went much further, prohibiting a State from enforcing any aspect of its duly enacted law against anyone.”
Safeguarding children
This marked the Supreme Court’s initial involvement in a state law aimed at safeguarding children from transformative transgender treatments. Labrador expressed joy over the decision, hailing it as a significant victory for the youth in Idaho.
Legal proceedings
Legal proceedings will persist, with the Supreme Court anticipated to fully consider the case’s merits following the appellate stage.
Devastating consequences
“I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of drugs and procedures used on children with gender dysphoria. And it’s a preventable tragedy,” Labrador said. “The state has a duty to protect and support all children, and that’s why I’m proud to defend Idaho’s law that ensures children are not subjected to these life-altering drugs and procedures.”
Gender dysphoria
“Those suffering from gender dysphoria deserve love, support, and medical care rooted in biological reality,” he added. “Denying the basic truth that boys and girls are biologically different hurts our kids. No one has the right to harm children, and I’m grateful that we, as the state, have the power — and duty — to protect them.”
Republican attorneys general
Supported by 19 Republican attorneys general, Labrador’s petition to the Supreme Court contended that it would constitute a “severe medical crisis” if Idaho was unable to safeguard children from transgender interventions.
20 states
In the past few years, more than 20 states have implemented legislation to shield minors from transgender surgeries, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormone treatments.
