Christian Doctors Sue Colorado Over Law Compelling Gender Transition Care
The Christian Medical and Dental Associations and Button Family Practice, a primary care clinic in Canon City, Colorado, filed a federal lawsuit against the state on September 10, challenging provisions of Colorado's Anti-Discrimination Act. The law bars medical practices from publicly stating they will not perform certain procedures based on a patient's gender identity, requires providers to use a patient's chosen name and pronouns, and requires facilities that perform procedures such as mastectomies or hysterectomies for other medical reasons to also perform them for gender transition purposes. The lawsuit argues the requirements force doctors to violate their religious and medical convictions.
Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Bryan Neihart, representing the plaintiffs, said the state is not allowed to conscript doctors to harm the people entrusted to their care. The lawsuit follows a Colorado Supreme Court ruling earlier this year ordering Children's Hospital Colorado to resume providing gender transition services, which opposing counsel in that case said confirmed the state's civil rights laws apply fully to transgender patients. The new case is among several ongoing disputes over how far Colorado's anti-discrimination law can reach into medical providers' religious objections.
