Federal judge in Texas blocks Pres. Obama’s transgender mandate in the Lone Star State and elsewhere
Chris Enloe 7 hours
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge in Texas on Saturday ordered a halt to another Obama administration effort to strengthen transgender rights, this time over health rules that social conservatives say could force doctors to violate their religious beliefs.
The latest injunction signed by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor comes four months after he blocked a higher-profile new set of transgender protections — a federal directive that required public schools to let transgender students use bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. Several of the Republican-controlled states that brought that lawsuit, including Texas, also sued over the health regulations that were finalized in May.
Civil rights groups had hailed the new health rules as groundbreaking anti-discrimination protections. The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund said the new U.S. Health and Human Services regulations advised that certain forms of transgender discrimination by doctors, hospitals and insurers violated the Affordable Care Act.
But a coalition of religious medical organizations said the rules could force doctors to help with gender transition contrary to their religious beliefs or medical judgment. O’Connor agreed in his 46-page ruling, saying the rules place “substantial pressure on Plaintiffs to perform and cover transition and abortion procedures.”
The rules were set to take effect Sunday.
“Plaintiffs will be forced to either violate their religious beliefs or maintain their current policies which seem to be in direct conflict with the Rule and risk the severe consequences of enforcement,” O’Connor wrote.
Transgender rights advocates have called that a far-fetched hypothetical, saying a person would not approach a doctor who lacked suitable experience and expertise.
The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund criticized the injunction as contrary to existing law and said it expects the ruling to be overturned on appeal.
“Judge O’Connor’s conclusion that transgender people and persons who have had abortions are somehow excepted from protection is deeply troubling, legally specious, and morally repugnant,” said Ezra Young, the organization’s director of impact litigation.
Federal officials did not immediately react to the ruling, and adding to the uncertainty is a new administration under President-elect Donald Trump. Many transgender people expect him to abandon or weaken the transgender protection efforts pursued by the Obama administration. Trump sent mixed signals about his approach to transgender rights during his campaign, at one point saying transgender celebrity Caitlyn Jenner could use whatever bathroom she preferred in one of his luxury buildings.
At the same time, Trump has declined to repudiate a divisive North Carolina law that restricts transgender people’s bathroom access. He has said such policy decisions should be left up to the states.
O’Connor’s ruling also comes amid the fears of transgender people that more GOP-governed states will approve legislation limiting transgender rights and will reject proposals to expand such rights.
Joining Texas in the lawsuit over the health regulations were Wisconsin, Kentucky, Nebraska and Kansas, along with the Christian Medical and Dental Association and Franciscan Alliance, an Indiana-based network of religious hospitals.
The Obama administration finalized the regulations around the time it issued its directive to public schools regarding transgender students. Thirteen states signed on to fight that directive, including three involved in the health regulations lawsuit, and won a temporary injunction in August from O’Connor.
At the time, O’Connor wrote in that case that the federal education law known as Title IX “is not ambiguous” about sex being defined as “the biological and anatomical differences between male and female students as determined at their birth.”
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/01/01/federal-judge-in-texas-blocks-pres-obamas-transgender-mandate-in-the-lone-star-state-and-elsewhere/
Chris Enloe 7 hours
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge in Texas on Saturday ordered a halt to another Obama administration effort to strengthen transgender rights, this time over health rules that social conservatives say could force doctors to violate their religious beliefs.
The latest injunction signed by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor comes four months after he blocked a higher-profile new set of transgender protections — a federal directive that required public schools to let transgender students use bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. Several of the Republican-controlled states that brought that lawsuit, including Texas, also sued over the health regulations that were finalized in May.
Civil rights groups had hailed the new health rules as groundbreaking anti-discrimination protections. The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund said the new U.S. Health and Human Services regulations advised that certain forms of transgender discrimination by doctors, hospitals and insurers violated the Affordable Care Act.
But a coalition of religious medical organizations said the rules could force doctors to help with gender transition contrary to their religious beliefs or medical judgment. O’Connor agreed in his 46-page ruling, saying the rules place “substantial pressure on Plaintiffs to perform and cover transition and abortion procedures.”
The rules were set to take effect Sunday.
“Plaintiffs will be forced to either violate their religious beliefs or maintain their current policies which seem to be in direct conflict with the Rule and risk the severe consequences of enforcement,” O’Connor wrote.
Transgender rights advocates have called that a far-fetched hypothetical, saying a person would not approach a doctor who lacked suitable experience and expertise.
The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund criticized the injunction as contrary to existing law and said it expects the ruling to be overturned on appeal.
“Judge O’Connor’s conclusion that transgender people and persons who have had abortions are somehow excepted from protection is deeply troubling, legally specious, and morally repugnant,” said Ezra Young, the organization’s director of impact litigation.
Federal officials did not immediately react to the ruling, and adding to the uncertainty is a new administration under President-elect Donald Trump. Many transgender people expect him to abandon or weaken the transgender protection efforts pursued by the Obama administration. Trump sent mixed signals about his approach to transgender rights during his campaign, at one point saying transgender celebrity Caitlyn Jenner could use whatever bathroom she preferred in one of his luxury buildings.
At the same time, Trump has declined to repudiate a divisive North Carolina law that restricts transgender people’s bathroom access. He has said such policy decisions should be left up to the states.
O’Connor’s ruling also comes amid the fears of transgender people that more GOP-governed states will approve legislation limiting transgender rights and will reject proposals to expand such rights.
Joining Texas in the lawsuit over the health regulations were Wisconsin, Kentucky, Nebraska and Kansas, along with the Christian Medical and Dental Association and Franciscan Alliance, an Indiana-based network of religious hospitals.
The Obama administration finalized the regulations around the time it issued its directive to public schools regarding transgender students. Thirteen states signed on to fight that directive, including three involved in the health regulations lawsuit, and won a temporary injunction in August from O’Connor.
At the time, O’Connor wrote in that case that the federal education law known as Title IX “is not ambiguous” about sex being defined as “the biological and anatomical differences between male and female students as determined at their birth.”
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/01/01/federal-judge-in-texas-blocks-pres-obamas-transgender-mandate-in-the-lone-star-state-and-elsewhere/
Today at 7:00 am by Rocky
» utube 5/9/24 MM&C 0:02 / 46:46 PM - Al-Sudani - Golden Opportunity - Private Sector - Contra
Today at 6:57 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 5/11/24 Iraqi Dinar - IQD Update - International - IraqTiming - 2024 Budget Schedule - Sp
Today at 6:55 am by Rocky
» Bahr Al-Ulum calls for legislating the renewable energy law and localizing the solar panel industry
Today at 6:49 am by Rocky
» In numbers: the rise in internal debt in Iraq
Today at 6:49 am by Rocky
» Jordan demands that Iraq continue to export oil for another three months
Today at 6:46 am by Rocky
» Iraq is the largest producer.. OPEC+ is pumping higher than scheduled and in anticipation of the Jun
Today at 6:44 am by Rocky
» Close to the coordination framework: There is no intention to change the internal regulations of Par
Today at 6:43 am by Rocky
» Central Bank sales exceed $274 million today
Today at 6:41 am by Rocky
» But the representative of the exchange companies is pessimistic... Why did the dollar fall?... The C
Today at 6:38 am by Rocky
» Jordan addresses Iraq to extend a memorandum of understanding to purchase oil
Today at 6:36 am by Rocky
» Bribes increased from 3,000 to 50,000 dollars.. What is the condition of alcohol in Iraq after the p
Today at 6:34 am by Rocky
» Presence movement: Sunnis and Kurds while the Americans remain in Iraq
Today at 5:31 am by Rocky
» A deputy reveals the contents of the first water strategy in Iraq
Today at 5:29 am by Rocky
» Soon...the second reading of the proposed red card law
Today at 5:28 am by Rocky
» The discovery of 10 new oil and gas fields in the Anbar desert
Today at 5:27 am by Rocky
» A bloc announces to “Al-Ma’louma” the date of the parliamentary speaker’s election session
Today at 5:26 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance explains the mechanism for amending the retirement law
Today at 5:24 am by Rocky
» Sovereignty accuses Al-Halbousi of obstructing the election of a Speaker of Parliament
Today at 5:23 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Agriculture accuses Kurdistan of harming the farmers of the center and south
Today at 5:22 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani confirms Iraq's readiness to host the Arab Network conference
Today at 5:21 am by Rocky
» Nechirvan Barzani calls on the Iraqi government to allocate a budget to confront climate change
Today at 5:20 am by Rocky
» “Iraq is in danger.” Political warnings against ending the work of the UN mission
Today at 5:19 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Interior Minister announces the signing of a security cooperation memorandum with Syria
Today at 5:17 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Oil told “Al-Iqtisad News”: The 5th and 6th rounds will add 3 Mqmq of gas to Iraq’s
Today at 5:16 am by Rocky
» Economist: Tax revenues from the private sector should be 4 trillion dinars annually
Today at 5:14 am by Rocky
» The Real Estate Bank calls on the Iraqi Central Bank to determine a plan to allocate a new initiativ
Today at 5:13 am by Rocky
» More than one billion and 400 million dollars...CBI sales within a week
Today at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Oil: Iraq achieved self-sufficiency in liquid gas and began exporting the surplus
Today at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Iraq begins exporting liquid gas
Today at 5:09 am by Rocky
» The Cabinet Secretariat sets to Al-Iqtisad News the completion date for the Chinese agreement school
Today at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Securities: The most recent law of the Authority in the Arab and regional countries
Today at 5:07 am by Rocky
» A European desire to strengthen security and economic cooperation with Baghdad
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» The close selection of a person for the position of Speaker of Parliament
Today at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary law excludes the exchange of penalties for cash amounts
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» An agreement with Italy to finance industrial projects
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» The Najaf Chamber of Commerce signs a “memorandum of understanding” with its Thai counterpart
Today at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Baghdad, Arab Forum
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Specialists: Economic integration and job opportunities await development
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic, Nechirvan and Barzani stress the necessity of coordinating efforts be
Today at 4:57 am by Rocky
» The Judicial Institute announces the names of those accepted for the 48th and 49th sessions
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Today's newspapers are interested in launching the fifth licensing supplement rounds and the sixth l
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani receives the Secretary-General of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Trade participates in the meetings of the Economic and Social Council at the level of senior officia
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Transport discusses with the Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration wa
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Iraq recorded an increase in its oil exports to the United States last week
Today at 4:49 am by Rocky
» It is governed by three dimensions.. Parliament talks about a strategic priority for Iraqi national
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» To what extent do Arab countries influence politically Iraq? It has become more independent
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» The Iranian ambassador in Baghdad: Iraq has paid its debts, and the security agreement includes thre
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Dollar exchange rates decline slightly on the Baghdad Stock Exchange
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» China has 18% of the fields in the two new rounds, and 11 countries share the remainder
Today at 4:43 am by Rocky
» On the table...a proposal for the Kurdistan oil crisis and an effort to conclude a similar agreement
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Al-Awadi: A government decision to provide sovereign guarantees and guarantees to encourage the inve
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» 6 Chinese companies are among the winners of developing Iraqi oil and gas fields
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Baghdad gives UNAMI the end of 2025 to leave the country after fiery briefings
Today at 4:37 am by Rocky
» Dhi Qar clarifies: The quarry burying radioactive materials is regular and does not pose a danger
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: There are 64 lagging projects in Babylon
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» The housing crisis is expanding and planning confirms: Iraq needs 3 million housing units to solve i
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» 90 billion dinars were recovered from social protection violators
Today at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Iraq seeks to increase its oil reserves to more than 160 billion barrels
Today at 4:31 am by Rocky
» After keeping the numbers secret... Did the rain increase Iraq's water reserves by 120%?
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» In the first quarter of 2024.. Iran will displace Iraq and become the second largest producer in OPE
Today at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Iraqi oil exports to Jordan stopped 20 days ago
Today at 4:27 am by Rocky
» Iraq and Syria sign a memorandum of security cooperation in several fields
Today at 4:25 am by Rocky
» Parliament recommends stopping electronic schools in Iraq
Today at 4:24 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary law rules out passing a law replacing penalties with sums of money
Today at 4:22 am by Rocky
» After a rare meeting... sources talk about Al-Sadr's future in political life in Iraq
Today at 4:21 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic warns of climate change and its threat to food security and future gen
Today at 4:20 am by Rocky
» The Iranian ambassador to Iraq talks about negotiations for the withdrawal of American forces and Tu
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» Deputy: Iraq represents an important factor in the stability of the global oil market
Today at 4:16 am by Rocky
» Transportation: The Iraqi-Turkish technical committees continue to fulfill the requirements for impl
Today at 4:15 am by Rocky
» Economic: Raising the interest rate will reduce real estate prices
Yesterday at 7:20 am by Rocky
» Did Barzani agree in Tehran to end the presence of Iranian groups in Kurdistan? - urgent
Yesterday at 7:16 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: We are establishing a new situation for the global energy market through the Development
Yesterday at 7:14 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The government program devoted a wide scope to the government’s vision for oil and gas in
Yesterday at 7:11 am by Rocky
» Al-Awadi: Ending the work of the UNAMI mission is consistent with the government’s vision in this fi
Yesterday at 7:10 am by Rocky
» MM&C Floating the dinar" returns to the forefront.. Will the Central Bank of Iraq resort to it and w
Yesterday at 5:24 am by Rocky
» The Secretary of the Ministry of Defense meets with the Commander of the NATO mission
Yesterday at 5:17 am by Rocky
» Expert: The stability of the economy is linked to the political situation
Yesterday at 5:13 am by Rocky
» A parliamentary request to lift the injustice against 20,000 Iraqi employees
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance criticizes the government's failure to send the budget schedules
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Minister of Oil: The 5th and 6th licensing rounds will take place within the framework of exploratio
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq is a difficult number in the global market in the field of energy
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Al-Khanjar rejects Al-Halbousi’s request to head Parliament
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Revealing the date of the arrival of the 2024 budget schedules
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Halbousi nominates Talal Al-Zubaie for presidency of the House of Representatives
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» "A coup in Iraqi universities"... Replacement of presidents and deans under the new education law
Yesterday at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq is a difficult number in the equation of energy and oil wealth in the region and the
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Minister of Oil: We hope to announce an increase in Iraq’s oil reserves to 160 billion barrels
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Iraq's mass graves...stories that did not end with the burial of their owners, and the "legacy of IS
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Pictures: New licenses in Iraq to extract “huge” quantities of oil and gas
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Transport reopens the Baghdad - Samarra railway line
Yesterday at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Al-Awadi: A government decision to provide sovereign guarantees and guarantees to encourage the inve
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Oil clarifies the mechanism for investing grant funds and licensing contracts
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» A $700 million agreement is signed between Iraq and Italy to finance these projects
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Iraq recovers 90 billion dinars from social protection violators
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Sudanese officially launches the two licensing rounds and sets the date for stopping gas burning
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» An economic vision for the standard of competition for exploratory plots in Iraq
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Islamic Bank announces an increase in its capital to 300 billion dinars
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky