Judge rules Arkansas ban concerning transgender minors violates US Constitution

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A federal judge struck down Arkansas' first-in-the-nation ban on chosen gender-affirming care for children as unconstitutional Tuesday, the first ruling to overturn such a prohibition as a growing number of Republican-led states adopt similar restrictions. U.S. District Judge Jay Moody issued a permanent injunction against the Arkansas law, which would have prohibited doctors from providing hormone treatment, puberty blockers or surgery to anyone under 18. Arkansas' law, which Moody temporarily blocked in 2021, also would have prohibited doctors from referring patients elsewhere for such care....