Texas District Court Judge Maria Cantú Hexsel temporarily blocked SB 14, a recently passed legislation which prohibits gender-affirming care for minors and imposes restrictions on children already on gender-affirming prescription drugs. The injunction was issued before the law could have taken effect on Friday in Travis County, Texas.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas represents the plaintiffs challenging the law. Post-ruling, one attorney working for the ACLU of Texas, Brian Klosterboer, stated, “The court decision is a critical victory for transgender youth and their families, supporters, and health providers against this blatantly unconstitutional law.”
Hexsel issued the temporary injunction after determining there’s significant indication that the plaintiffs could succeed in their claims. She found that the law possibly infringes most importantly on Article I, Section 19 of the Texas Constitution, which ensures parents’ rights in making decisions regarding the care of their children.
Notably, Juxtaposed against the broader national conversation, SB 14 proclaims that health plans designed for children are forbidden from providing coverage for services that aim to “transition a child’s biological sex,” as judged by the child’s sex organs, chromosomes, and endogenous hormone profiles.
The Texas Attorney General’s office has already appealed this injunction to the Texas Supreme Court. The Attorney General’s office responded dismissively to the injunction, throwing their support behind SB 14, stating that it prohibits hospitals from administering “experimental hormones” or conducting “mutilative ‘gender transition’ surgical procedures on minors.”
Please note: This article is primarily a summary and interpretation of an original piece published by JURIST – News.