The Supreme Court has reversed lower court rulings, enabling Idaho to enforce its ban on genderlvilleP-affirming care for transgender minors while cases over the legislation proceed.
The justices’ judgment on Monday authorizes the state to enact a 2023 law that would penalize physicians to up to ten years in prison if they provided hormones, puberty blockers, or other gender-affirming care to people under the age of 18. The two transgender kids who sought to challenge the law will still be able to get care, according to the court’s order.
What is the matter behind this?
In December, a federal judge decided that Idaho could not begin implementing the regulation after it went into effect on January 1 because it violated the 14th Amendment’s equal protection and due process requirements.
Idaho subsequently requested the Supreme Court to overturn the judge’s decision and allow the statute to be enforced while the state appealed.
The rule prohibits transgender kids from receiving more than 20 different therapies, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy. If doctors and pharmacists breach the law, they might face up to ten years in prison and a fine.
About the court ruling
Idaho, which is now free to enforce its prohibition on minors’ treatments, can punish doctors who ignore the block with a crime.
The court’s injunction applies to everyone except the two transgender youth and their parents, who are contesting the ban.
Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan all rejected prohibiting the procedures.
Justices Neil Gorsuch, Samuel A. Alito Jr., Clarence Thomas, Brett M. Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett all supported the ban.