Transgender youth and doctors challenge North Dakota’s 2023 ban on gender-affirming care for minors, saying it violates constitutional rights.

An appeal has been filed with the North Dakota Supreme Court challenging a lower court’s decision upholding the state’s 2023 ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. Filed by Gender Justice and The Lawyering Project on behalf of pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Luis Casas and transgender youth, the appeal argues the law violates constitutional rights to liberty, privacy, and equal protection. The ban prohibits hormone treatments, puberty blockers, and surgeries for minors, with penalties including prison and fines. After a seven-day trial, a district judge ruled the law was within legislative authority, stating adult decision-making should govern medical risks. Advocates claim the law undermines medical judgment and targets transgender youth, while the state maintains it protects children’s long-term well-being. The case remains pending before the state’s highest court.