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# ACLU sues Arkansas over trans healthcare ban
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/aclu-sues-arkansas-over-trans-healthcare-ban/
- Published: 2021-05-29T12:10:00.000Z
- Updated: 2021-05-29T12:10:00.000Z
- Description: ACLU has sued the state of Arkansas following the success of House Bill 1570.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, American Civil Liberties Union, Arkansas, LGBTQ, Trans healthcare, Transgender, US

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/healthcare-human-rights-600-400.jpg)

The **American Civil Liberties Union** (ACLU) has sued the state of **Arkansas** on behalf of six plaintiffs, four of which are families and two of which are medical professionals, following the success of [House Bill 1570](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/arkansas-enacts-trans-healthcare-ban/), which will prevent young trans people from accessing gender-affirming healthcare. Although the bill was rejected by governor **Asa Hutchinson**, the House and Senate voted to override his decision.

The new regulations are due to go into effect on **July 1**, with the lawsuit aiming to prevent this from happening. In a 47-page [complaint](https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/brandt-et-al-v-rutledge-et-al-complaint?ref=scenemag.co.uk), ACLU said HB 1570 will have *“have devastating consequences for transgender youth in Arkansas”*, adding: *“These young people will be unable to obtain medical care that their doctors and parents agree they need – and those already receiving care will have their treatment abruptly halted – which could have serious and potentially life-threatening consequences.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/trans-healthcare-now-1.jpg)

It noted that the prospect of losing access to *“this critical medical care”* is *“unbearable”* for many young trans people. One of the plaintiffs, **Joanna Brandt**, is concerned about the impact the bill will have on her 15-year-old trans son who would have to discontinue his use of testosterone, saying it *“incredibly distressing”* that *“he can no longer receive the gender-affirming care that has made him the happy, confident, thriving kid that he’s been.”*

The lawsuit is arguing that the denial of healthcare violates both the *“right to parental autonomy guaranteed by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment”* and the right to free speech.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/trans-healthcare-saves-lives-1.jpg)