LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Wednesday, a federal judge blocked a section of Senate Bill 150 hours before it was supposed to take effect.
In issuing the preliminary injunction, U.S. District Judge David Hale sided with seven transgender minors and their parents, who sued the state officials responsible for enforcing the provisions banning the use of puberty blockers and hormones.
Gov. Andy Beshear originally vetoed the bill, but it was overturned.
In their lawsuit, the Kentucky plaintiffs claim that the prohibition interferes with parental rights to seek established medical treatment for their children.
The plaintiffs requested a preliminary injunction to prevent the disputed portion of the law from taking effect on Thursday.
In his order, Hale concluded that the plaintiffs showed “a strong likelihood of success on the merits” of their constitutional challenges to the contested portion of the measure.
In his order, the judge said that if the disputed sections were allowed to take effect, they would “eliminate treatments that have already significantly benefited six of the seven minor plaintiffs and prevent other transgender children from accessing these beneficial treatments in the future.”
Corey Shapiro, the legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, said this is a win, "but it is only the first step."
"We’re prepared to fight for families’ right to make their own private medical decisions in court, and to continue doing everything in our power to ensure access to medical care is permanently secured in Kentucky," Shapiro said.
Republican gubernatorial candidate and Kentucky's Attorney General Daniel Cameron criticized the decision, and called Senate Bill 150 a "commonsense law."
"Today’s misguided decision by a federal judge tramples the right of the General Assembly to make public policy for the Commonwealth," he said. "There is nothing 'affirming' about this dangerous approach to mental health, and my office will continue to do everything in our power to defend this law passed by our elected representatives.”
At least 20 states have now enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and most of those states face lawsuits.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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