Five transgender youths file suit saying Oklahoma health care ban is unconstitutional

Five Oklahoma transgender youths and their families have sued the state over a ban on gender-affirming health care, alleging the halt of puberty-blocking drugs, surgery and hormone treatments is a violation of their constitutional rights.

The families filed the lawsuit in a Tulsa federal court Tuesday, one day after Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 613, which immediately banned gender transition surgeries, along with a six-month phase-out of other drug and hormone treatments.

“We wanted to make sure we were ready as soon as possible because access to care changed immediately (with the governor’s signature),” said Megan Lambert, legal director for the ACLU of Oklahoma, which is part of the lawsuit.

The lawsuit, which claims the state's health care ban discriminates on the basis of sex and transgender status, lists dozens of state health boards and officials as defendants, including Attorney General Gentner Drummond.

"We are aware a complaint has been filed. We will review it and will defend the laws of the State of Oklahoma,” said Phil Bacharach, a spokesperson for Drummond’s office.

More: Oklahoma governor signs bill to ban surgery, hormones for trans youths

Oklahoma’s Republican state Legislature intensified its focus on transgender health care this past year, including legislation in September that withheld federal funds from the University of Oklahoma health system unless it stopped all gender reassignment medical treatment to minors.

The push to ban all gender-affirming care drew large protests at the state Capitol in recent months, but the bill received wide support in the Republican-majority House and Senate.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to what’s happening across our nation, and as governor, I am proud to stand up for what’s right and ban life-altering transition surgeries on children in the state of Oklahoma,” Stitt said Monday after signing SB 613.

Lawsuit details impact gender-affirming care has had for families

Pseudonyms are used for the families in the lawsuit to protect their privacy regarding their transgender status.

But the lawsuit details how gender-affirming care had positively impacted each family and young person.

One of the young people started to “bloom once he began receiving treatment and living as a boy; he is euphoric to be who he is,” the lawsuit states.

Other youths were described as regaining the confidence to interact with others, hold down a job, try out for a theater program, and experience “drastic improvement” in their mental health.

More: Transgender, nonbinary Oklahomans worry about direction of state laws on education, health

Lambert, the ACLU attorney, said it was important for the lawsuit to highlight real Oklahomans who are impacted by the health care ban, especially as lawmakers admitted they had little to no interaction with families and doctors who would be impacted.

“We have ended up with a policy detached from reality and prohibits evidence-based medical care,” Lambert said.

Shauna Lawlis, a doctor with OU Health Physicians who specializes in adolescent medicine, also joined the lawsuit, claiming she was forced to move her work to a private clinic because of last year's threat by lawmakers to withhold funds for OU Health.

Lawsuits have been filed in other states with similar bans on gender-affirming care, including Tennessee.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Lawsuit seeks to halt Oklahoma's ban on gender affirming care