Photo by Rebecca S. Gratz for ACLU of Nebraska
LINCOLN, NE – OutNebraska Executive Director Abbi Swatsworth issued the following statement in response to today’s Nebraska Supreme Court decision:
Whether we’re discussing access to reproductive healthcare or medically-necessary care for transgender youth, Nebraskans should be able to make personal medical decisions without governmental intrusion. Bodily autonomy is a human right.
These attacks impact us all, and we cannot overstate the link between transgender care restrictions and abortion restrictions. When these basic freedoms are taken from us, many others follow; our freedoms to work, play, love and grow are all called into question when we lack control of our bodies. An attack on one Nebraskan is an attack on all.
Since LB 574 was introduced, young transgender Nebraskans and their families have only faced increasingly restrictive regulations when attempting to access medically-necessary care. Current regulations do not follow best practices and they exacerbate existing barriers to care, especially for rural and low to middle income families.
We are deeply disappointed in this decision from the Nebraska Supreme Court and will continue to fiercely advocate for the rights of transgender youth and their families. No matter what lawmakers say, transgender Nebraskans belong.
Additionally, families of transgender youth should familiarize themselves with the current guidelines for receiving care. In partnership with Nebraska Appleseed and ACLU of Nebraska, we developed this fact sheet which outlines those regulations.
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OutNebraska is a non-partisan organization working to empower, celebrate and grow LGBTQ+ communities in Nebraska. For more information visit outnebraska.org.