A North Dakota judge has upheld the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for kids. Judge Jackson Lofgren’s ruling Wednesday dealt a blow to families who have had to travel out of state to receive the medical treatments they said are crucial for their kids’ well-being.
A North Dakota judge has upheld the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for children, in a blow to families who have had to travel out of state to obtain the medical treatments they said are crucial for their kids’ well-being.
District Judge Jackson Lofgren’s said in his decision Wednesday that the law discriminates based on age and medical purpose, not sex, and that there’s little evidence the Legislature passed the law for “an invidious discriminatory purpose.” He also noted various concerns and ongoing debates over the medical treatments involved.
“The evidence presented at trial establishes there is a legitimate concern regarding the capacity of minors to understand and appreciate the long-term consequences of the practices prohibited by the Health Care Law,” the judge wrote, adding that he doesn’t believe the law violates the state constitution.
The ruling means parents who decided to seek gender-affirming medical care for their children after the state’s ban took effect in April 2023 will need to do so out of state.
