Transgender People and Health Care
Vasquez v. Iowa Department of Human Services
On May 31st, 2019, the ACLU of Iowa and National ACLU LGBTQ and HIV Project filed a lawsuit to block implementation of an Iowa law that was recently passed to restore the ban on Medicaid coverage for essential, gender-affirming surgery to transgender Iowans that the Iowa Supreme recently struck down.
Status: Closed
View Case
Learn About Transgender People and Health Care
All Cases
24 Transgender People and Health Care Cases
Nebraska Supreme Court
May 2023
Transgender People and Health Care
LGBTQ Rights
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland v. Hilgers
In May 2023, the ÀÏÊìÅ®ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû and the ACLU of Nebraska filed a lawsuit on behalf of Nebraska abortion providers and their patients challenging a state law that bans physicians from providing abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy and that, as of October 2023, will restrict health care available to trans youth. The ACLU has asked a state court in Nebraska to enter an emergency order blocking the law’s enforcement. The Court ruled that the two halves of L.B. 574 fall within the single subject of regulating health care, and thus the Court held that L.B. 574 does not violate the single-subject rule. Consequently, the abortion ban and gender-affirming care restrictions in L.B. 574 remain in effect. However, the Court did reject the state’s argument that the single-subject is a nonjusticiable political question.
Explore case
Nebraska Supreme Court
May 2023
Transgender People and Health Care
LGBTQ Rights
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland v. Hilgers
In May 2023, the ÀÏÊìÅ®ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû and the ACLU of Nebraska filed a lawsuit on behalf of Nebraska abortion providers and their patients challenging a state law that bans physicians from providing abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy and that, as of October 2023, will restrict health care available to trans youth. The ACLU has asked a state court in Nebraska to enter an emergency order blocking the law’s enforcement. The Court ruled that the two halves of L.B. 574 fall within the single subject of regulating health care, and thus the Court held that L.B. 574 does not violate the single-subject rule. Consequently, the abortion ban and gender-affirming care restrictions in L.B. 574 remain in effect. However, the Court did reject the state’s argument that the single-subject is a nonjusticiable political question.
California
Feb 2023
Transgender People and Health Care
Knight v. St. Joseph Hospital
The ÀÏÊìÅ®ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû Foundation of Northern California, the ÀÏÊìÅ®ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû Foundation of Southern California and Rukin Hyland & Riggin LLP filed a lawsuit on March 21, 2019 on behalf of Oliver Knight, a 29-year-old transgender man who was denied surgery minutes before it was scheduled to take place based on the hospital’s religious beliefs, which do not recognize gender-affirming care.
Explore case
California
Feb 2023
Transgender People and Health Care
Knight v. St. Joseph Hospital
The ÀÏÊìÅ®ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû Foundation of Northern California, the ÀÏÊìÅ®ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû Foundation of Southern California and Rukin Hyland & Riggin LLP filed a lawsuit on March 21, 2019 on behalf of Oliver Knight, a 29-year-old transgender man who was denied surgery minutes before it was scheduled to take place based on the hospital’s religious beliefs, which do not recognize gender-affirming care.
Georgia
Jul 2022
Transgender People and Health Care
Thomas et al v. Georgia Department of Community Health et al
Shon Thomas and Gwendolyn Cheney are two Black transgender women enrolled in Georgia Medicaid who have been unable to access gender-affirming surgical care. They have sued the state, alleging that denying access to gender-affirming surgeries under Medicaid is a violation of the U.S. Constitution, the Affordable Care Act, and the Medicaid Act. They are represented by the ACLU and the ACLU of Georgia.
Explore case
Georgia
Jul 2022
Transgender People and Health Care
Thomas et al v. Georgia Department of Community Health et al
Shon Thomas and Gwendolyn Cheney are two Black transgender women enrolled in Georgia Medicaid who have been unable to access gender-affirming surgical care. They have sued the state, alleging that denying access to gender-affirming surgeries under Medicaid is a violation of the U.S. Constitution, the Affordable Care Act, and the Medicaid Act. They are represented by the ACLU and the ACLU of Georgia.
U.S. Supreme Court
Nov 2021
Transgender People and Health Care
Religious Liberty
Dignity Health v. Minton
Evan Minton was turned away from a Dignity Health hospital because he is transgender. He filed a lawsuit against a Dignity Health medical center for withholding medical care because of a patient's gender identity, amounting to sex discrimination in violation of California's Unruh Civil Rights Act.
Explore case
U.S. Supreme Court
Nov 2021
Transgender People and Health Care
Religious Liberty
Dignity Health v. Minton
Evan Minton was turned away from a Dignity Health hospital because he is transgender. He filed a lawsuit against a Dignity Health medical center for withholding medical care because of a patient's gender identity, amounting to sex discrimination in violation of California's Unruh Civil Rights Act.