A Texas judge Saturday issued a court order barring the enforcement of part of the Affordable Care Act that covered transgender health and abortion related services.
Judge Reed O'Connor sided with eight states, including Texas, as well as Christian healthcare providers, who had taken issue with legislation extending sex discrimination to include "discrimination on the basis of gender identity and termination of pregnancy." The ruling came a day before the protective measure was to go into effect.
O'Connor claims that the Obama-administration protections for trans citizens and women seeking abortion would have violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act by forcing private healthcare providers to "perform and provide insurance coverage for gender transitions and abortions, regardless of their contrary religious beliefs or medical judgment."
Katie Hill, White House spokeswoman, spoke out against the ruling, saying, "Today's decision is a setback, but hopefully a temporary one, since all Americans--regardless of their sex, gender identity or sexual orientation--should have access to quality, affordable health care free from discrimination."
The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, has held an anti-discrimination section since it's inception. The protections now in question were to be implemented by the U.S. Health and Human Service Department in order to put said protections into effect.
