A federal lawsuit was filed on Tuesday by two transgender young adults and five families of trans minors, challenging two executive orders recently issued by President Donald Trump. These orders seek to block federal funding for transition-related health care for individuals under 19 and define sex as being biologically male or female and unchangeable. The lawsuit contends that these orders were issued with the discriminatory intent of preventing transgender individuals from expressing a gender identity different from their birth sex and demonstrate governmental disapproval towards them.
One of the plaintiffs, Kristen Chapman, shared her family’s experience of facing challenges accessing gender-affirming medical care for her 17-year-old trans daughter in Virginia after their home state of Tennessee implemented restrictions. Despite their efforts to secure care through Medicaid, they encountered difficulties and were ultimately turned away by a healthcare provider due to the executive orders signed by President Trump. The lawsuit, filed in the District Court of the District of Maryland, seeks an immediate injunction to block these orders, arguing that they exceed the president’s authority to withhold approved federal funds and violate the rights of parents and trans individuals under 19 by discriminating based on sex.
Multiple organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, ACLU of Maryland, and legal firms Hogan Lovells and Jenner & Block, are representing the plaintiffs in this lawsuit. Omar Gonzalez-Pagan of Lambda Legal condemned the orders as both morally unjust and legally unsound, emphasizing that the government should not interfere in decisions regarding individuals’ healthcare. The lawsuit aims to challenge and overturn these policies that have negatively impacted the transgender community and their access to essential services.
In a statement, he expressed concern over the impact of recent orders on transgender youth and their families. He criticized the orders for causing unnecessary suffering and limiting access to recommended healthcare for transgender individuals. One order mandates the recognition of only two sexes, male and female, and restricts the promotion of gender ideology. The other order prohibits federal funding for transition-related medical care for children under 19, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy. These orders could affect healthcare discrimination laws and programs receiving federal funds. While some states have already restricted transition-related care for minors, recent research suggests that only a small number of adolescents actually access this type of care.
Individuals who are transgender or gender-diverse and receive prescriptions for puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones are supported by major medical associations such as the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association. These organizations advocate for unrestricted access to transition care for minors. However, during his initial two weeks in office, former President Trump issued multiple executive orders that aim to limit the rights of transgender individuals. In addition to the orders mentioned in the ongoing lawsuit, he also enacted a prohibition on transgender individuals from enlisting and serving in the military. Several lawsuits have been filed in response to these orders, including two cases involving transgender women incarcerated in federal prisons who would be deprived of transition care and potentially transferred to male prisons. Additionally, a lawsuit was filed by transgender service members and individuals seeking to enlist. A judge intervened to block the transfer of one transgender inmate on a recent Sunday.
