Attorney General Keith Ellison has joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The brief supports Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, and individual patients and their families in their lawsuit against the Trump Administration.
The lawsuit challenges Executive Orders 14168 and 14187 issued by President Trump, which target transgender individuals by claiming that gender identity is a "false" idea. These orders attempt to strip federal funding from institutions providing gender-affirming care for young people under 19 years old. Attorney General Ellison and his colleagues argue that these actions unlawfully discriminate against transgender youth based on their identity.
"While the Trump Administration continues to deliberately bully our transgender children and deny them medically necessary care that is proven to save their lives, I will continue to tell the truth about gender-affirming care and use every tool I have available to protect this care and the people who need it," said Attorney General Ellison.
The coalition highlights medical evidence showing that gender-affirming care improves health outcomes for individuals with gender dysphoria, a condition where one's gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. A study by the University of Washington found that receiving such care significantly reduces depression and suicidal thoughts among individuals aged 13-20.
Furthermore, they argue that the Executive Orders have created confusion among healthcare providers offering gender-affirming services, leading to anxiety among transgender youth and their families. The Trevor Project reported increased demand for its crisis services following these developments.
Despite Minnesota's continued provision of this care, fears persist due to potential federal funding losses unrelated to gender-affirming treatments. Minnesota, along with Washington and Oregon, filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block parts of Executive Order 14187 within its borders. A temporary restraining order was issued on February 14th halting these directives in Minnesota. Colorado later joined as a plaintiff in an amended complaint expanding the relief sought against additional administrative acts.
The amici states are urging the court to grant PFLAG’s motion for a preliminary injunction against these executive actions.
Joining Attorney General Ellison are attorneys general from Massachusetts, Maryland, California—who co-led the brief—and those from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island Vermont,and Washington.