TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin have joined a federal lawsuit against the state of Oklahoma’s ban on youth gender transitioning healthcare and surgeries.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general in opposition to an Oklahoma state law that severely restricts transgender youth’s access to essential gender-affirming care. The legal battle revolves around Oklahoma’s Senate Bill (SB) 613, which places significant limitations on medical treatments for transgender minors seeking gender-affirming care. After the district court denied a motion for a preliminary injunction against SB 613, the plaintiffs in the case, known as Poe v. Drummond, appealed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Today, Attorney General Bonta and his coalition filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs, contending that Oklahoma’s ban on gender-affirming care violates equal protection and emphasizing the critical role of such care in the well-being of transgender youth.
“Gender-affirming care is safe and widely recognized as an effective way to support the mental and physical health of transgender youth,” Attorney General Bonta stated. “We stand united in opposition to Oklahoma’s SB 613, aimed at undermining the health and well-being of transgender youth. Amidst the growing assault on LGBTQ+ rights nationwide, my office remains committed to ensuring equal and comprehensive medical care for everyone.”
Many transgender teenagers experience gender dysphoria, a condition resulting from the incongruence between their gender identity and the sex assigned at birth. Gender dysphoria can lead to severe distress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, decreased social functioning, substance misuse, and a diminished quality of life. Alarmingly, suicide attempts among transgender individuals are nine times more common than in the overall U.S. population, with even higher risks among transgender youth.
Oklahoma’s SB 613 seeks to impede transgender youth’s access to medical treatments such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers, which are vital in addressing gender dysphoria.
In their amicus brief, the coalition argues that the law:
- Significantly harms the health and lives of transgender individuals by denying them medically necessary care that safeguards their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.
- Is discriminatory and violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution by prohibiting medical treatment based on gender identity.
- Fails to acknowledge the benefits of inclusive laws and policies, such as those in California, for transgender individuals.
- Does not meet the standard of heightened scrutiny because a complete ban on medically necessary healthcare is not substantially related to Oklahoma’s asserted interests.
Attorney General Bonta has consistently demonstrated his commitment to defending the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ youth, as evidenced by his involvement in numerous legal actions and amicus briefs across various states challenging laws and policies that negatively impact transgender individuals.
The coalition supporting this amicus brief includes the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.