Opening arguments begin today in a lawsuit challenging North Dakota's ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth.
The case stems from a law change the state legislature approved in 2023, mirroring action in other conservative-led states.
With some exceptions, the ban brings criminal penalties against doctors if they provide care, like puberty blockers, to transgender people under the age of 18.
Brittany Stewart is a senior staff attorney with the legal non-profit Gender Justice, representing the plaintiffs. She says these laws prevent families from seeking critical healthcare for their children.
"Young people who are dealing with gender dysphoria, which is a legitimate medical condition recognized by all the medical associations," said Stewart, "this is the care that helps alleviate symptoms, and those symptoms include extreme anxiety and depression."
Her organization reports families having to drive up to seven hours for doctor appointments.
Republicans behind the ban argue they're trying to protect children, noting young people aren't mature enough for these decisions.
But ban opponents say parents and doctors are heavily involved in discussing the lengthy process, and that gender-affirming surgery is rare for minors.
A separate legal challenge from Tennessee is now before the U.S. Supreme Court. Stewart noted that the courts have frowned on similar laws in a neighboring state.
"The Montana Supreme Court just upheld the injunction that is halting their gender-affirming care ban," said Stewart. "And they did find that the ban violated that individual right to personal autonomy."
Testimony in the North Dakota trial is expected to last a little more than a week. Since it's a bench trial with no jury, Stewart said the judge will likely decide the outcome several months later.
Meanwhile, an opinion in the U.S. Supreme Court case is expected this summer.
Public News Service
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