SW News: A federal judge on Tuesday struck down Arkansas' ban on gender alteration measures for children stating it unconstitutional. District Judge Jay Moody issued a permanent injunction against the Arkansas law, which made it illegal for doctors to treat patients under 18 with gender-altering hormones, prescribe puberty inhibitors, or perform surgery.
"The evidence showed that this care improves the mental health and well-being of patients and that, by prohibiting it, the state undermined the interests it claims to be advancing," Judge Moody in Little Rock wrote in the order. He added that this law would violate First Amendment rights for medical providers.
Given that numerous states headed by Republicans enact such limitations, this is the first judgment to block such a ban. Arkansas became the first state nationwide to ban gender-alteration measures for gender-confused youth when lawmakers passed Act 626 in 2021. However, Judge Moody previously blocked the law days before it was set to take effect in 2021.
Four gender-confused teenagers from Arkansas and their families filed the complaint two years ago along with the medical professionals who offer gender-alteration procedures.
Under the now-blocked law, teenagers would not have had access to puberty-blockers, a medication option for gender dysphoric adolescents that delays the onset of puberty.
It also outlawed the use of so-called cross-hormone therapy, a gender-altering procedure enabling people to alter their bodies to physically imitate the opposite sex.
Meanwhile, state Attorney General Tim Griffin said that he plans to appeal. "I am disappointed in the decision that prevents our state from protecting our children against dangerous medical experimentation under the moniker of 'gender transition,'" Griffin said.
Arkansas became the first state in the country to forbid gender-altering care for gender-confused children when it passed the law in 2021. The proposal was first vetoed by the state's then-Republican governor, but the state legislature overrode the veto.