Seven families with transgender or nonbinary children have filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s executive order to cease federal support for gender-affirming health care for transgender individuals under 19 years old. This lawsuit, filed in a Baltimore federal court, includes plaintiffs such as PFLAG, a national LGBTQ family group, and GLMA, a doctors organization. The legal challenge follows Trump’s recent order directing the federal government to halt funding for gender-affirming medical care via programs like Medicaid and TRICARE.
One of the plaintiffs, Kristen Chapman, moved her family from Tennessee to Virginia due to a ban on gender-affirming care in their home state. Her 17-year-old daughter, Willow, was left without care after the hospital canceled her appointment following Trump’s order. The ACLU and Lambda Legal, representing the plaintiffs, argue that the executive orders are unconstitutional as they withhold previously authorized federal funds and infringe on parental rights. They also highlight the discriminatory nature of the policy, which allows federal funds for the same treatments when not used for gender transition.
Health providers are evaluating the impact of the order, with some pausing coverage. Trump’s stance on transgender policies diverges sharply from the Biden administration’s approach of extending civil rights protections to transgender individuals. The legal challenge emphasizes the established medical standards for transgender youth care and the danger posed by political interference. Trump’s orders not only affect health care access but also seek to redefine gender and regulate transgender military service and gender education in schools.
Legal challenges are mounting against various Trump policies affecting transgender individuals, reflecting a broader societal debate on the rights and care of transgender minors. Despite the visibility and acceptance gained by transgender individuals, opposition in the form of restrictive state laws persists, with ongoing legal battles, including a pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care.
