(Indianapolis, IN) - The recent effort by state lawmakers to ban transgender procedures for minors has been blocked in federal court.
Senate Bill 480 bans the use of puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery to change the gender of a minor. It also forbids doctors from communicating with out-of-state medical providers related to such interventions for minors. Governor Eric Holcomb signed the legislation in April, despite referring to it as being "clear as mud." The law was set to take effect in two weeks.
On Friday a federal judge stepped in to allow the use of puberty blockers and hormones. The surgery ban is still in play, because that procedure is not currently provided in Indiana.
The ACLU filed the lawsuit on behalf of a doctor and four individuals. U.S. District Court Judge James Patrick Hanlon, a Trump appointee, sided with them, saying the ban as written is an overreach. He issued a preliminary injunction and called for a trial date to settle the matter.
At least 20 states have now enacted laws restricting or banning such procedures for minors. Legal challenges have also blocked the laws in three other states.
