(INDIANAPOLIS) – Senator J.D. Ford (D – Indianapolis) released this statement following the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding Indiana’s ban on gender-affirming care for youth, which was signed into law last year:

“I am saddened and angered to see this ban on science-based healthcare for transgender young people go into effect. These youth are among the most vulnerable in our state, and decisions about their care should be made between themselves, their families & support systems, and medical professionals — not an increasingly intrusive and ideological state government.

I applaud the brave young people, families and advocates who have been taking the fight against this extremist legislation through the courts. As the ACLU said yesterday, that fight is far from over. I hold out hope that in time the judicial system will rule in favor of the rights of individuals to determine their own identity, and I will always stand strong beside my friends in the LGBTQ+ community.”