Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Transgender Care Ban: What Michigan Families Need to Know
D.C. judge's ruling a major blow to ongoing Republican anti-trans political, legal targeting
Michigan families seeking gender-affirming care for transgender youth received promising news as a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump's executive order banning such treatments for individuals under 19. On March 4, a federal judge blocked Trump's executive orders restricting transgender youth healthcare nationwide, allowing hospitals to provide treatment. This follows a similar ruling by a Seattle judge who had blocked the order in Washington, Minnesota, Oregon and Colorado after attorneys general from those states filed suit.
The ruling could directly benefit Michigan healthcare providers like Corewell Health, which recently reversed its decision to limit gender-affirming care after pressure from over 40 local LGBTQ+ organizations. The nationwide injunction ensures that hospitals across the country that temporarily paused care can now resume services without fear of losing federal funding.
Federal Court Ruling Details
On March 5, Judge Brendan A. Hurson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of Trump's executive order titled "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation." Unlike a previous lawsuit that only secured protections in Minnesota, Oregon and Washington, this injunction applies nationwide, providing comprehensive protection for transgender individuals seeking care.
The executive order had threatened to strip federal funding from institutions providing gender-affirming care to those under 19 but lacked clear enforcement mechanisms. Judge Hurson's ruling halts all enforcement efforts and mandates the reimbursement of any federal funds that had been withheld, effectively neutralizing the order's impact.
The lawsuit, PFLAG v. Trump, was filed on Feb. 4 by Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of several anonymous families whose children would have been denied care under the order, as well as legal adults who fell within its scope. The plaintiffs argued that the ban would deprive transgender people of life-saving healthcare and jeopardize their physical and mental well-being.
In his decision, Judge Hurson stated that the plaintiffs demonstrated a "strong likelihood that they will succeed on the merits of all three claims" and ruled that Trump's actions were explicitly unconstitutional, citing precedents from the Clinton administration. He determined that the executive order violated Articles I and II of the Constitution by attempting to bypass the legislative process.
Notably, Judge Hurson criticized the administration's reliance on the Cass Review, emphasizing that it "does not even support a complete ban on gender-affirming care for minors" and citing another judge who called the review "unfounded" and lacking "clinical experience or research qualifications."
Impact on Healthcare Providers and Families
The ruling has immediate implications for healthcare systems across the country, including in Michigan. Corewell Health, which had briefly become the first health system in Michigan to limit gender-affirming care services for new patients, quickly reversed its decision following both community pressure and legal developments.
Equality Michigan's Executive Director Erin Knott celebrated Corewell's reversal in a statement, describing gender-affirming care as "family-centered, equality-centered and science-centered." She acknowledged that "the pain and confusion endured by families and young people who had appointments cancelled was tragic and avoidable."
The coalition of over 40 Michigan organizations that challenged Corewell's restrictions had emphasized that such policies could have "devastating consequences for transgender youth and their families." Their advocacy was bolstered by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's guidance that healthcare facilities must comply with Michigan's anti-discrimination laws, which protect individuals based on gender identity and expression.
The nationwide injunction effectively strengthens this position, ensuring that healthcare providers can continue offering gender-affirming care without risking federal funding. For Michigan families with transgender youth, this means more stable access to treatments that medical professionals and advocacy groups describe as "lifesaving, essential, evidence-based gender-affirming care."
As PFLAG National CEO Brian K. Bond said in a statement after the ruling, "The court has ruled to ensure hospitals, doctors and healthcare professionals in our communities can continue the work to keep our families healthy." This ruling, combined with local advocacy efforts, demonstrates that collective action can be effective in challenging institutional policies that restrict LGBTQ+ healthcare access.
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