A federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday, Nov. 13, that an Indiana law banning gender-affirming care for minors can remain in effect. A panel of judges on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an appeal filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to block the law from taking effect.
The law prohibits physicians from knowingly providing gender transition procedures to individuals younger than 18 years of age. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the law in April 2023.
The ACLU argued the law “prohibits health care professionals from providing or even referring transgender young people for medically necessary health care” and filed a request for a preliminary injunction, which a district court initially granted.
However, in February of this year, an appeals court in Chicago removed the temporary injunction. The decision by the federal appeals court allows state officials the authority to enforce the ban.
Indiana’s Attorney General Todd Rokita, R, posted a statement on X saying the court panel’s decision is “a huge win for Hoosiers” and will help protect children.
“By rejecting the injunction against our commonsense state law, dangerous and irreversible gender-transition procedures for minors will remain banned in Indiana,” Rokita wrote.
It remains unclear whether the decision will be appealed. A spokesperson for the ACLU told The Associated Press the organization is weighing its options.
