A pair of lawsuits aimed at stopping Alabama’s new law criminalizing the provision of gender-transitioning medical treatment to minors have been dropped.
Rep. Wes Allen, R-Troy, a sponsor of the bill, said Monday that the action shows that the lawsuits are frivolous.
“I have said from the beginning that this was a frivolous lawsuit and the fact that the plaintiffs dropped the case so soon after filing it proves that I was correct about their motives,” Allen said. “This bill was legally passed by the Alabama House and Senate and signed into law by the Governor. It is Constitutional and the plaintiffs know it.”
The suits were dropped Friday five days after being filed. No cause was stated for the action.
The bill creates a Class C felony for the prescription of puberty blockers and hormones to transgender minors punishable by up to 10 years in prison. It also bans genital surgeries on minors.
Birmingham attorney Melody Eagan, who is representing two anonymous transgender teens using the pseudonyms Mary Roe and Jane Doe, told AL.com Friday, however, that the suits may be refiled.
“We do plan to refile imminently, to challenge this law that criminalizes medical treatment accepted as the standard of care in the medical profession and deprives parents of their right to choose such medical care for their children,” Eagan said.
“If they refile this suit in a different district, it will show they are attempting to judge-shop,” Allen said. “For groups like the ACLU and SPLC, this is not about justice or any concern for children. This is just about publicity and fundraising for them.”
