Paran ak doktè yo eksprime soulajman ke adolesan transganr yo pral kapab kontinye resevwa swen medikal nesesè yo pandan y ap kontinye konteste SB 184 la.

Yon jij tribinal distri federal Alabama te pibliye yon desizyon ki bloke aplikasyon lwa SB 184 Alabama a pandan yon kontestasyon legal kont lalwa a ap kontinye. SB 184 kriminalize paran k ap chèche jwenn swen medikal esansyèl pou bezwen pitit transjèn yo. Li bay jiska 10 ane prizon kòm pinisyon pou nenpòt moun, ki gen ladan doktè ak paran, ki ede jwenn swen jèn sa yo bezwen an.

Kostim nan, Rev. Eknes-Tucker kont Marshall, se kat paran Alabama ki soti toupatou nan eta a ki te depoze ka a sou baz ke li retire dwa yo pou yo pran desizyon enpòtan konsènan swen sante pitit yo. Yo te mete tèt ansanm ak yon pedyat ki pratike nan yon klinik prive nan zòn riral Sidès Alabama, yon sikològ klinik nan sistèm medikal UAB a, ak Reveran Paul Eknes-Tucker, Pastè Prensipal nan Pilgrim United Church of Christ nan Birmingham, yo tout ka fè fas ak sanksyon kriminèl anba lalwa. Depatman Lajistis Etazini an te rantre nan pwosè a tou kòm demandè-entèvenan konteste konstitisyonalite lalwa a ki ta refize tretman medikal etabli bay jèn ki transganr men pa bay lòt moun.

Desizyon an vini apre yon odyans prèv de jou 5 ak 6 me kote doktè ak ekspè medikal te dekri sekirite ak efikasite byen etabli swen medikal pou jèn transganr ki fè eksperyans disfori sèks ak domaj ki ka rive sou sante timoun yo lè yo refize swen sa a. Tribinal la te resevwa prèv ki konfime ke plis pase 22 gwo òganizasyon medikal rekonèt swen etabli pou jèn transganr yo. Tribinal la te tande tou nan men paran demandè yo, nan reyinyon ak nan temwayaj devan tribinal prive, sou enpak pozitif pwofon aksè a swen medikal apwopriye te genyen sou sante ak byennèt pitit yo ak domaj devastatè ki ta soti nan oblije sispann tretman an.

Akademi Ameriken pou Pedyatri, chapit Alabama Akademi Pedyatri a, Asosyasyon Medikal Ameriken an ak lòt òganizasyon medikal leta ak nasyonal yo te soumèt yon dokiman zanmi tribinal la k ap dekri konsansis ki genyen nan kominote medikal la ki sipòte estanda swen pou jèn transganr yo epi ki opoze lwa tankou SB 184 ki kriminalize epi entèdi swen nesesè ki pwouve.

Demandan Megan Poe, manman Allison ki gen 15 an, ki soti nan Nò Alabama:
“Tankou nenpòt paran, pi gwo enkyetid mwen chak jou se pou pitit mwen an an sante, kontan e an sekirite. Se yon gwo soulajman pou m konnen pitit fi mwen an ap kapab kontinye resevwa sipò ak swen li bezwen an e sa pèmèt li vin adolesan ki gen konfyans nan tèt li e ki angaje li ye a. Pandan m konnen anpil moun ka pa konprann sa sa vle di pou w gen yon timoun transganr, mwen rekonesan tribinal la te koute eksperyans fanmi mwen ak lòt fanmi tankou pa nou an ki te pè anpil pou sa SB 184 pral pote. Bloke lalwa a vle di nou ka respire yon ti kras pi byen jiskaske nou espere wè l sispann pou tout bon.”

Reveran Paul Eknes-Tucker, ki te sèvi kòm Pastè Prensipal nan istorik Pilgrim Church UCC depi 2015:
“Mwen te pale ak anpil fanmi ki te wè pitit transjèn yo devlope grasa bon swen ak sipò. Menm fanmi sa yo te pataje angwas yo avè m sou sa ki ta rive pitit yo si lwa sa a ta antre an vigè. Mwen santi m ankouraje pa desizyon sa a ki pral diminye enkyetid yo pou lavni imedya a pou yo ka konsantre sou kontinye sipòte pitit yo.”

Doktè Rachel Koe, pedyat nan pratik prive nan zòn riral Sidès Alabama:
"Paran yo vle e yo bezwen kapab chèche konsèy ak swen medikal fyab pou sipòte sante pitit yo, epi entèwonp swen an nan mitan tretman an ka gen konsekans devastatè. Desizyon sa a se yon soulajman pou timoun transganr ki ka kontinye jwenn swen yo bezwen an ak pou paran ki vle fè sa ki pi bon pou pitit yo."

James Zoe, papa Zachary, 13 an, ki soti Birmingham:
"Desizyon sa a vle di ke nou pral kapab kontinye bay pitit nou an swen medikal li bezwen an epi pa gen anyen ki ka pi enpòtan oswa ki ka pi soulaje fanmi nou. Alabama se lakay nou epi nou espere ke lwa mechan sa a pap kite nou kite l. N ap goumen pou pitit nou an epi n ap kontinye goumen pou li menm ak tout jèn transjèn nan Alabama ka toujou resevwa swen medikal apwopriye."

Fanmi k ap konteste lalwa a soti toupatou nan eta a epi y ap kontinye anonimman akòz risk pouswit jidisyè anba SB 184 la, epitou pou rezon vi prive ak sekirite yo. Yo se Brianna Boe ak pitit gason transganr li ki gen 12 an, Michael Boe, moun Montgomery; James Zoe ak pitit gason transganr li ki gen 13 an, Zachary Zoe, moun Birmingham; Megan Poe ak pitit fi transganr li ki gen 15 an, Allison Poe, moun Nò Alabama; epi Kathy Noe ak pitit gason transganr li ki gen 17 an, Christopher Noe, moun Lès Alabama.

Demandan yo reprezante pa Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC, King & Spalding LLP, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), Sant Nasyonal pou Dwa Lesbyèn (NCLR), Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), epi Kanpay Dwa Moun (HRC).

"Desizyon sa a vle di ke paran timoun transganr nan Alabama ap kontinye kapab pran desizyon swen sante ki pi bon pou fanmi yo. Se yon soulajman ekstraòdinè. Paran yo pa ta dwe pini paske yo vle fè sa ki pi bon pou pitit yo," te di Jennifer Levi, Direktè Pwojè Dwa Transjan GLAD la.

"Desizyon sa a diminye gwo estrès fanmi yo atravè Alabama yo te anba depi SB 184 te pase mwa pase a. Yon eta pa ta dwe kriminalize paran ak doktè paske yo swiv direktiv medikal epi bay tretman medikal ki nesesè yo," te di Asaf Orr, Avoka Senior NCLR ak Direktè Pwojè Jèn Transganr yo.

“Nou rekonesan tribinal la te tande demand puisan fanmi yo ak founisè yo ki t ap sibi gwo domaj nan lwa sa a. Paran yo pa ta dwe janm nan yon pozisyon inimajinab pou yo chwazi ant refize pitit transjèn yo swen sante ki nesesè a oswa fè fas ak prizon,” te di Sarah Warbelow, Direktè Legal HRC a.

"Bloke aplikasyon SB 184 la sipòte byennèt jèn transganr yo nan Alabama ak dwa paran ki, dapre lalwa, ta gen entèdiksyon pou chèche pi bon swen posib pou pitit yo." te di Scott McCoy, Direktè Legal Adjwen Enterimè SPLC pou Dwa LGBTQ ak Litij Espesyal.

Aprann plis bagay sou ka a.

Alabama Parents, Joined by Minister and Medical Providers, Seek Emergency Court Order Blocking Law that Will Criminalize their Transgender Children’s Ongoing Medical Care

Facing criminal penalties and a devastating loss of essential medical care for their children, four Alabama parents from across the state, joined by two medical providers and Rev. Eknes-Tucker of Pilgrim UCC Church in Birmingham will ask a federal court to block SB 184 from taking effect

Four Alabama parents are asking a federal court to stop SB 184 from taking effect on May 8, saying the law strips them of the right to make important decisions about their children’s healthcare. SB 184 punishes parents and their children’s doctors for providing – or even suggesting – well-established essential medical care for their transgender children. The punishment can include up to 10 years in prison.

The new legal challenge, Rev. Eknes-Tucker v. Ivey was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama – Northern Division. Because the plaintiffs face criminal penalties and a dangerous loss of necessary medical care for their children under SB 184 they will ask the court to block the law from going into effect while their case against it proceeds.

Joining four Alabama parents in their challenge to SB 184 are a private practice pediatrician in rural Southeast Alabama, a clinical psychologist with the UAB medical system, and Reverend Paul Eknes-Tucker, Senior Pastor at Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Birmingham.

The families asking the court to block the law come from across the state and are proceeding anonymously due to the risk of criminal prosecution under SB 184. They are Brianna Boe and her 12-year-old transgender son, Michael Boe of Montgomery; James Zoe and his 13-year-old transgender son Zachary Zoe of Birmingham; Megan Poe and her 15-year-old transgender daughter Allison Poe of Northern Alabama; and Kathy Noe and her 17-year-old-transgender son Christopher Noe of Eastern Alabama.

The two medical providers are also proceeding anonymously due to the risk of criminal prosecution.

“As a minister I counsel parents with transgender children about how best to love and support their children. Under SB 184, those conversations now come with a risk of criminal prosecution,” said Reverend Paul Eknes-Tucker, who has served as Senior Pastor at historic Pilgrim Church UCC since 2015. “This dangerous law is an unthinkable infringement on parental rights and the freedom of pastors and other faith leaders to counsel their own parishioners. This law is destructive not only to families in Alabama, but to the freedoms and values Alabamians hold dear.”

“I know people who don’t have a transgender child may not understand my experience. I have done everything I can to learn about what my daughter is going through, and being able to seek guidance from our pediatrician and medical specialists was a turning point for our family,” te di Megan Poe, mother of 15-year-old Allison of Northern Alabama. “With that support and care Allison has become a confident and social teenager who is thriving in school. Without it, I’m terrified she will again become withdrawn, depressed, or even worse. I only want what’s best for my daughter, like any parent. For the state to take away my ability to provide that essential care and support is unthinkable.”

“Our family is challenging this cruel law because it infringes on our ability as parents to ensure our child receives appropriate medical care, and targets transgender youth simply for being transgender,” te di James Zoe, father of 13-year-old Zachary of Birmingham. “We have the choice to leave our home state of Alabama, or stay and fight. We have chosen to fight for our child and for all transgender children in Alabama. In the end, we believe this unfair law will be overturned and we will be able to continue providing our child with the medical care he needs.”

“Parents come to me seeking trusted medical advice but under SB 184 both I and the parents consulting me are subject to a prison sentence for even discussing the best recommendations for supporting their children’s health,” te di Dr. Rachel Koe, pediatrician in private practice in rural Southeast Alabama. “SB 184 criminalizes effective, established medical treatment that is recognized as the standard of care in the medical field, including by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association.”

Demandan yo nan Rev. Eknes-Tucker v. Ivey are represented by Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC, King & Spalding LLP, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), Sant Nasyonal pou Dwa Lesbyèn (NCLR), Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), ak la Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

“The parents challenging this law, like all parents, want what’s best for their kids, but SB 184 punishes them for that. This is a dangerous law that undermines the ability of Alabama parents to make the best healthcare decisions for their families,” te di Jennifer Levi, Direktè Pwojè Dwa Transjan GLAD la. 

“Allowing SB 184 to go into effect will cause enormous stress and harm to families across Alabama. A state should not criminalize parents and doctors for following medical guidelines and providing needed medical treatments,” te di NCLR Senior Staff Attorney and Transgender Youth Project Director Asaf Orr.

“SB 184 disregards the well-being of transgender youth in Alabama and disrespects the rights of parents who under this law are prohibited from seeking the best possible care for their children,” te di Scott McCoy, Direktè Legal Adjwen Enterimè SPLC pou Dwa LGBTQ ak Litij Espesyal.

“These care providers and families want nothing more than to do what’s best for their children, yet SB 184 threatens them with criminal penalties for providing critically important care that is often life-saving for transgender youth,” said Sarah Warbelow, HRC Legal Director.

Follow the case page for the latest updates.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.

Sant Nasyonal pou Dwa Lesbyèn yo (NCLR) se yon òganizasyon legal nasyonal ki angaje nan fè pwomosyon dwa moun ak dwa sivil kominote lesbyèn, ge, biseksyèl, transjèn, ak queer yo atravè litij, defans politik piblik, ak edikasyon piblik. Depi fondasyon li, NCLR kenbe yon angajman depi lontan anvè jistis rasyal ak ekonomik ak moun ki pi vilnerab nan kominote LGBTQ a.

Atravè litij estratejik, defans politik piblik, ak edikasyon, Avoka ak defansè legal GLBTQ yo ap travay nan Nouvèl Angletè ak nan tout peyi a pou kreye yon sosyete jis, san diskriminasyon ki baze sou idantite ak ekspresyon sèks, estati VIH, ak oryantasyon seksyèl.

Kanpay Dwa Moun nan (HRC) se pi gwo òganizasyon dwa sivil nan Amerik k ap travay pou reyalize egalite pou lesbyèn, ge, biseksyèl ak transjèn. HRC prevwa yon mond kote moun LGBTQ+ yo aksepte kòm manm aplentan nan sosyete a lakay yo, nan travay yo ak nan chak kominote.