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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday struck down an injunction that allowed transgender Hoosier children to access gender-transition procedures from health care providers while federal court proceedings continued.
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the law banning such procedures after Republican lawmakers passed it in 2023. The law now immediately takes effect.
The underlying case is ongoing as parties argue about expert testimony and document deadlines. A bench trial is tentatively set for spring 2025.
In June, U.S. District Court Judge James Patrick Hanlon upheld a legislative ban on surgical procedures but halted state prohibitions on hormone therapies and puberty blockers in a preliminary injunction for children diagnosed with gender dysphoria.
Tuesday’s ruling is an appeal of the district court’s preliminary injunction. The Seventh Circuit out of Chicago—covering Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin—reviewed submissions in the case and heard oral arguments on Feb. 16.
Plaintiffs can appeal Tuesday’s ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Indiana is one of at least 23 states that have enacted restrictions or bans on gender-transaction medical procedures for transgender minors
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, whose office is defending the ban in court, praised the ruling on X, formerly Twitter.
“Our commonsense state law, banning dangerous and irreversible gender-transition procedures for minors, is now enforceable following the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeal’s newest order. We are proud to win this fight against the radicals who continue pushing this horrific practice on our children for ideological and financial reasons,” Rokita wrote.
Doctors can be disciplined for providing such procedures, and such cases would be brought by the Attorney General’s Office.
Hanlon, in his June ruling, said the plaintiffs demonstrated “some likelihood of success” in their arguments that the ban violated equal protection rights, specifically because the prohibition allows the treatments to continue so long as children don’t have a gender dysphoria diagnosis.
States and courts have been split on how to approach gender-transition treatments. In his ruling, Hanlon emphasized that each side agreed about the need for more research on the long-term effects of gender-transition procedures.
In January, he also granted class action certification in the case.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana—which represented the four transgender youths and their parents who filed the legal challenge—lamented the ruling Tuesday evening but vowed to continue challenging the ban.
“This ruling is beyond disappointing and a heartbreaking development for thousands of transgender youth, their doctors, and their families,” the organization said in a statement. “As we and our clients consider our next steps, we want all the transgender youth of Indiana to know this fight is far from over and we will continue to challenge this law until it is permanently defeated and Indiana is made a safer place to raise every family.”
The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, not-for-profit news organization that covers state government, policy and elections.
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Shameful law. Sad court ruling.
Medical experiments on children were equally embraced by mid-century Germans, Rick. At least you’re in good company.
Peddle your half-baked nonsense elsewhere.
These are cases of families in distress and trying to help their children. Backed up by credible, peer-reviewed medical research.
The Nazi references are childish but….kinda expected.