People holding transgender flags.Photo: Getty
A new federal ruling could protect transgender people from a growing conservative effort to restrict access to gender-affirming healthcare.
Last week, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals published the opinion that 1990’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) extends to those suffering from gender dysphoria, reversing the previous ruling out of Virginia inKeshaWilliamsv.Stacey Kincaid.
“The ADA defines the term ‘disability’ broadly to include ‘a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual,'” the ruling states.
Her requests to shower privately and have female deputies conduct her body searches were also ignored. Another defendant, Deputy Garcia, subjected Williams to a " ‘highly aggressive’ search that resulted in bruising to her breast and caused her ‘pain for several days,’ " according the the ruling.
The Fairfax County Sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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“It’s a very important and positive ruling to increase people’s access to gender-affirming care,” Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, told the AP.
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At least 13 U.S. states have signed anti-LGBTQ legislation into law and another 23 states have introduced such bills in 2022 alone, according toHRC, with many of those laws targeting trans youth and gender-affirming care.
Texas Gov.Greg Abbotthas ramped up attacks on trans youth, directing the Department of Family and Protective Services toinvestigate parents for child abuseafter they provided gender-affirming care for their children.FloridaandAlabamahave since adopted similar policies.
PresidentJoe Bidenrecentlypledged his support to trans citizensduring Transgender Day of Visibility in March, and he’s continued to urge Congress topass the long-overdue Equality Act.
source: people.com
