7th Circuit Upholds Indiana Ban on Gender Care

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has vacated an injunction against Indiana's law prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors, allowing the law to take full effect. The majority opinion argued that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate 'irreparable harm' and highlighted alternative treatments, such as psychotherapy, as viable options for managing gender dysphoria. The law, enacted in 2023, bans hormone treatments, puberty blockers, and gender transition surgeries for individuals under 18, and prohibits medical providers from assisting in such procedures. Dissenting opinions raised concerns about the law's implications for free speech rights among medical professionals. Indiana's Attorney General hailed the ruling as a victory for protecting children. This decision aligns with similar bans in other states, despite ongoing debates regarding their impact on transgender youth.