In a contentious decision that could impact similar laws across the nation, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has declined to reconsider a ruling upholding Alabama’s ban on hormone therapy and puberty blockers for transgender minors.
The ruling is likely to have significant implications for a similar legal battle in Florida, which is also within the 11th Circuit’s jurisdiction.
The court’s decision sparked a fierce debate among the judges, with strong opinions expressed on both sides.
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The majority argued that the question of transgender medical care for minors should be left to elected representatives, while dissenting judges warned that the ruling sets a dangerous precedent and strips parents of their fundamental rights.
“The panel opinion is wrong and dangerous. Make no mistake: while the panel opinion continues in force, no modern medical treatment is safe from a state’s misguided decision to outlaw it, almost regardless of the state’s reason,” U.S. Circuit Judge Robin S. Rosenbaum wrote.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said Thursday on social media that the decision “is a big win to protect children” from “life-altering chemical and surgical procedures.”
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The ruling comes amidst a wave of legislation in Republican-led states targeting transgender individuals.
Florida has a law similar to Alabama’s that restricts gender-affirming care for minors.
The 11th Circuit’s decision, which covers Florida, sets a precedent that could make it harder to challenge Florida’s law in court. It signals that the court is inclined to uphold such bans, potentially emboldening Florida lawmakers to further restrict or even expand the ban.
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to a similar law in Tennessee, signaling the national significance of this issue.
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