Attorney General Ellison once again defends transgender youth in court
Joins 20 AGs in opposing Indiana law barring lifesaving gender-affirming care for youth; follows prior support for transgender youth in Kentucky and Tennessee
September 27, 2023 (SAINT PAUL) – Attorney General Keith Ellison today joined a multistate coalition of 20 attorneys general in opposing a state law in Indiana that severely blocks the ability of transgender youth to access critical, lifesaving gender-affirming care. The plaintiffs in K.C. v. Indiana are suing to block Indiana’s Senate Enacted Act (S.E.A.) 480 , which prohibits healthcare professionals from providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth. Attorney General Ellison and the coalition filed an amicus brief at the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the plaintiffs, stressing the importance of gender-affirming care for the health and well-being of transgender youth.
“Gender-affirming care is healthcare, and nobody should be denied the healthcare they need—no exceptions," said Attorney General Ellison. “I will not sit by and watch anyone’s access to lifesaving healthcare come under political attack—much less young people who want only to be their authentic selves, and their families and communities who support them. I will continue using my office to help every person and family in Minnesota and around the country access the healthcare they need and live with dignity, safety, and respect.”
On August 11, 2023, Attorney General Ellison also joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in opposing similar laws targeting transgender youth in Tennessee and Kentucky.
Many transgender teens suffer from gender dysphoria, which results from the incongruence between their gender identity and sex assigned at birth. Gender dysphoria has been found to cause severe distress and anxiety, depression, fatigue, decreased social functioning, substance misuse, and a poorer quality of life. Among transgender people, suicide attempts are nine times more common than in the overall U.S. population. Those risks are even higher among transgender youth.
Enacted in April 2023, Indiana’s S.E.A. 480 is aimed at blocking transgender minors' access to medical treatment such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers that help treat gender dysphoria.
In their amicus brief today, the coalition supported the plaintiffs' lawsuit seeking to block the enforcement of S.EA. 480, arguing that the law:
- Significantly harms the health and lives of transgender people by denying them medically necessary care that protects their physical, emotional, and psychological health.
- Is discriminatory and violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution by banning medical treatment for transgender youth while permitting the same treatment for cisgender youth.
Attorney General Ellison is joined in filing the brief today by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who led the coalition, and the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
If you need help
If you identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and are struggling with your emotional health or are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, the following resources are here to support you:
OutFront Minnesota Helpline: (800) 800-0350 OutFront Minnesota’s Helpline has trained advocates available to help those experiencing violence, harassment, or harm.
Trevor Project Lifeline: (800) 788-7386 The Trevor Lifeline provides support to LGBTQ youths and allies in crisis or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk.
Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860 Trans Lifeline provides peer support for the transgender community and is run by and for trans people.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for LGBTQ+ Community: (800) 273-8255 This page offers information and resources for LGBTQ+ individuals who are struggling with suicidal feelings or mental health crises.
LGBT National Help Center A national resource that provides LGBTQ+ community with free & confidential support and referral resources via phone, text, and chat.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) LGBTQI Page This page highlights the unique mental health needs of the LGBTQ+ community and includes hotlines and resources to help address those needs.
