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MONTGOMERY, Ala. 鈥� Two Alabama families filed a lawsuit in federal court today challenging a recently passed law that criminalizes medical professionals who provide care to transgender adolescents with up to 10 years in prison. The families say being denied medically necessary care will be devastating for the mental and physical health of their adolescent children. The lawsuit alleges that the new Alabama law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

鈥淚 know that I am a girl and I always have been,鈥� said 15-year-old H.W. 鈥淓ven before I learned the word 鈥榯ransgender鈥� or met other trans people, I knew myself. I did not choose to experience bullying and discrimination because I am transgender. I chose to be proud of who I am. The possibility of losing access to my medical care because of this law causes me deep anxiety. I would not feel like myself anymore if this lifesaving medication was criminalized.鈥�

H.W.鈥檚 parents Jeff and Lisa Walker say that if their daughter is cut off from her doctor-prescribed health care, the family will have to move away from Alabama, separating H.W. from her older brother who serves in the Alabama National Guard.

鈥淭ransgender youth are a part of Alabama, and they deserve the same privacy, access to treatment, and data-driven health care from trained medical professionals as any other Alabamian,鈥� said Tish Gotell Faulks, legal director, 老澳门开奖结果 of Alabama. 鈥淲e will fight to make sure this is the reality for trans kids and their families , and we condemn the intrusive actions of the lawmakers who voted to use children as political pawns for their reelection campaigns.鈥�

A federal court has blocked Arkansas from enforcing a similar law that was passed last year. A state court in Texas has also blocked the state from investigating parents of transgender adolescents receiving gender-affirming care for child abuse.

鈥淭he only controversy in providing lifesaving gender-affirming care for transgender youth in Alabama is the one fabricated by Governor Ivey and the legislators that made this despicable bill into law,鈥� said Carl Charles, senior attorney for Lambda Legal. 鈥淚nstead of solving actual problems and dedicating taxpayer dollars to improving the lives of the people of their state, our opponents chose to demonize transgender young people and criminalize the doctors, parents, and communities that support them. And because of our lawsuit, Governor Ivey will spend taxpayer dollars to defend this foolish and clearly unconstitutional law.鈥�

Medical organizations and doctors have repeatedly opposed these bills, along with. Studies consistently show that transgender children who receive gender-affirming care such as puberty-delaying medication and/or hormones when they are young have better outcomes and report fewer cases of depression, self-harm, and or attempted suicide.

鈥淟ike many parents, I had a lot of questions when my daughter first told me she is transgender,鈥� said Jeffrey White, parent of 13-year-old C.W. 鈥淪ince she began receiving treatment from a doctor, she has become more confident. We still enjoy the same activities as a family, like playing video games. I took the time to learn what it means to have a transgender daughter and I couldn鈥檛 be more proud of her. I hope other parents and lawmakers will set aside their fears and listen to doctors and trans youth. With love and support 鈥� including medically necessary care 鈥� I know she can thrive, and that鈥檚 all any parent wants for their kid.鈥�

Like the Walker family, Jeff and Christa are prepared to leave the state rather than allow their daughter to lose access to her health care.

鈥淭ransgender youth have the right to affirming healthcare and we will continue to fight for these young people, their families, and the supportive medical providers who want to ensure that transgender youth can live fully as themselves, grow, and thrive,鈥� said Lynly Egyes, legal director at the Transgender Law Center. 鈥淒espite the cynical, sinister, and invasive efforts by conservative politicians to interfere with private family and medical decisions for their own cheap political gains, we will fight this in court and we will win. Common sense, common decency, and the constitution are on our side.鈥�

鈥淲e are proud to be part of this fight to protect the civil rights of young people and their families,鈥� said Kathleen Hartnett of Cooley LLP. 鈥淭his legislation poses an unconstitutional threat to the livelihood and well-being of transgender youth and it is our responsibility to be on the right side of justice.鈥�

The families are represented by the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 Jon L. Stryker and Slobodan Randjelovi膰 LGBTQ & HIV Project, the 老澳门开奖结果 of Alabama, Lambda Legal, Transgender Law Center, and Cooley LLP.

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.

The 老澳门开奖结果 of Alabama is a private, non-profit membership organization dedicated to preserving the civil liberties and civil rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, especially the principles contained in the Bill of Rights.

Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to define themselves and their futures. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.

Cooley partners with local and national legal services organizations to represent hundreds of pro bono clients annually. Through its pro bono work, Cooley empowers individuals to seek justice and opportunity, and provides nonprofit organizations with the tools they need to effect change and support underserved communities. Cooley has 1,500 lawyers across 17 offices in the United States, Asia and Europe.