The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld a law that restricts medical care for transgender youth and abortion, despite challenges from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Planned Parenthood.
The law, passed in 2022, prohibits gender-confirming surgeries and restricts hormone treatments for transgender minors. It also limits abortion to 12 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest, and fetal anomalies.
The ACLU argued that the law violates Nebraska’s single-subject rule, which requires bills to address only one subject. However, the court ruled that both abortion and transgender healthcare fall under the broader category of medical care.
Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman dissented, arguing that the majority applied different standards to bills passed by the Legislature and those proposed through voter referendum. She contended that the Legislature had previously recognized abortion and transgender care as distinct subjects.
The law has already restricted access to abortion and gender-affirming care in Nebraska. Opponents argue that it will widen health inequities, particularly for rural areas, people of color, low-income individuals, and young people.
Supporters of the law claim it protects vulnerable populations, including unborn children and transgender youth. They argue that the restrictions on abortion and gender-affirming care are necessary to ensure the health and well-being of these individuals.
The ACLU has vowed to continue fighting the law, potentially taking the case to the US Supreme Court. The decision highlights the ongoing debate over reproductive rights and transgender healthcare in the United States.
