A U.S. appeals court Monday reinstated Alabama’s ban on gender transition drugs for children, overturning a lower court injunction.
The three-judge panel for the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, all of whom were appointed by former President Donald Trump, reinstated the law, ruling that Alabama has “a compelling interest in protecting children from drugs, particularly those for which there is uncertainty regarding benefits, recent surges in use, and irreversible effects.”
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The decision authored by Judge Barbara Lagoa allows Alabama’s restriction on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to take effect.
“The Eleventh Circuit reinforced that the State has the authority to safeguard the physical and psychological wellbeing of minors, even if the United States Attorney General and radical interest groups disapprove,” Yellowhammer State Attorney General Steve Marshall said. “Alabama takes this responsibility seriously by forbidding doctors from prescribing minors sex-modification procedures that have permanent and often irreversible effects. This is a significant victory for our country, for children, and for common sense.”
The plaintiffs, represented by Birmingham-based lawyer Jeff Doss, are looking at options to appeal, according to Reuters.
Medical advocates who have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of child transition procedures are applauding the move by the circuit court.
“While it is unfortunate that the government needs to intervene in medical care, the overwhelming evidence shows that so-called gender-affirming care is not based on rigorous scientific data and likely produces more harm than good,” Do No Harm Chairman Stanley Goldfarb told the Washington Examiner. “This is the conclusion of four European countries at this point, and it will be the conclusion once medical authorities in the United States confront the reality of the current scientific literature.”
“Do No Harm supports these bans on gender, affirming care because we want to protect children,” he added. “These children need psychotherapy. They do not need drugs and surgery.”
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The appeals court decision reverses a decision by District Judge Liles Burke, another Trump appointee, who blocked the law last year.
Monday’s decision comes a day after a lower court in Georgia blocked part of the state’s new law banning transgender drugs and procedures for children, setting up another possible appeal to the 11th Circuit.
