Judge upholds North Dakota’s ban on gender-affirming care for kids
October 9, 2025
A North Dakota judge has upheld the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for kids. Judge Jackson Lofgren’s ruling Wednesday dealt a blow to families who have had to travel out of state to receive the medical treatments they said are crucial for their kids’ well-being. The Republican-controlled Legislature passed the ban in 2023, and then-Gov. Doug Burgum signed it into law. Supporters of the ban say it protects children from what they believe are irreversible effects of treatments and surgeries. Opponents say it harms transgender youth by denying them important medical care.