****

A federal appeals court has upheld an Indiana statute prohibiting the use of puberty blockers and hormones for transgender minors, joining a wave of similar laws passed by Republican-led states. The decisive 2-1 verdict from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, issued Wednesday, aligns with ongoing judicial scrutiny, as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to review a parallel case from Tennessee. The Supreme Court's upcoming decision holds the potential to influence the enforceability of such laws nationwide.

The 7th Circuit's decision reinforces a prior ruling that allowed the Indiana law to take effect in February, despite a challenge mounted by families of transgender minors and healthcare providers. This challenge had initially achieved a lower court injunction blocking the law. Plaintiffs had contended that the law was discriminatory based on sex and infringed upon parents' rights to direct their children’s medical care.

However, Circuit Judge Michael Brennan, representing the majority opinion, dismissed these claims. Brennan clarified that the statute does not single out any gender, stating it "bars gender transition procedures regardless of whether the patient is a boy or a girl." He further asserted that the right to medical treatment for minors is not absolute, drawing an analogy to a hypothetical demand for access to banned narcotics for minors, even if deemed medically beneficial by parents. Judge Brennan, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, received the concurrence of Senior Circuit Judge Kenneth Ripple, appointed by Ronald Reagan.

In contrast, Circuit Judge Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, appointed by President Joe Biden, dissented. She cited compelling arguments from dissenting judges in similar cases, such as the 6th Circuit's ruling on Tennessee's and Kentucky's laws. In that instance, dissenting Judge Helene White contended that such bans overstep into the established domain of parental authority over medical decisions for their children.

The practice of utilizing puberty blockers and hormones to assist children experiencing gender dysphoria—a condition marked by distress from a misalignment between one's gender identity and assigned birth sex—is now banned or limited in 26 states. Advocates for these laws argue that they shield children from what they regard as experimental and unproven treatments. Conversely, medical professionals and organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics advocate for these treatments, citing their role in reducing suicide attempts and improving mental health among transgender youth.

The specific case is cataloged as K.C. v. Individual Members of the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana, 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 23-2366.