FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2022
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Marcela Taracena, ACLU of Arizona, media@acluaz.org
Tyler Richard, ACLU, trichard@aclu.org
Christopher R. Vasquez, National Center for Lesbian Rights, cvasquez@nclrights.org
Following Governor Ducey’s decision to sign a bill that bans some types of medical care for transgender youth into law, the ACLU and NCLR have pledged to challenge the law in court.
PHOENIX, Az. – Governor Doug Ducey signed Senate Bill 1138 into law today. SB 1138 is an anti-trans piece of legislation that aims to limit healthcare for transgender youth even when doctors have said it is medically-necessary and lifesaving. This legislation has been opposed by healthcare professionals, prominent LGBTQ+ organizations, and parents and advocates of trans children.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) have vowed to challenge the law in court.
Jennifer Allen Aroz, ACLU of Arizona executive director, stated:
“For months, hundreds of doctors, parents, advocates, and trans youth have shown up in opposition to the countless anti-trans bills heard in committees. Despite the overwhelming pleas to end these discriminatory bills, legislators were intent on using trans youth as political ploys and have now passed a bill that prohibits trans youth from receiving the life-saving medical care they require.
Today is a sad day in Arizona. Presented with the opportunity to do the right thing and veto SB 1138, Gov. Ducey has instead chosen to give into falsehoods and extremism. Together with the ACLU and NCLR, we will continue to fight for trans youth and will file a lawsuit to challenge this law in court.”
Asaf Orr, NCLR senior staff attorney and transgender youth project director, stated:
“This is a harmful law that wrongly allows the government to dictate medical care for transgender youth in Arizona. Parents want what’s best for their children. They don’t need the State of Arizona seeking to take over their parental role.”
Legislative attacks aimed at transgender people and their rights are at unprecedented levels. For anyone contemplating suicide, there is help available. Please contact:
- Trevor Project: 866-488-7386
- Trans Life Line: 877-565-8860
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The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is our nation’s guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone.
The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. Since its founding, NCLR has maintained a longstanding commitment to racial and economic justice and the LGBTQ community’s most vulnerable. www.nclrights.org