U.S. Judge Stops Trump Administration From Transferring Transgender Inmate

A U.S. court has temporarily stopped federal prison officials from moving a transgender female to a male facility, and denying her gender-affirming care in compliance with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, her lawyers reported.

The order, issued by U.S. district judge George O’Toole on Sunday in Boston, appears to be the first legal challenge to an order Trump signed on Jan. 20 on his first official day in office. It targeted what he termed “gender ideologism extremism.”

The order of President Trump directed that the federal government recognize only two biologically distinct genders: male and female. It also instructed prisons to house transgender inmates in male-only cells and stop funding any medical care that affirms a particular gender.

The lawsuit was filed Sunday, and sealed shortly after. The judge, a Democrat appointed by President Bill Clinton lifted the seal of the lawsuit on Thursday, as he was hearing whether he would grant further relief to the inmate known under the pseudonym Maria Moe.

Lawyers from two LGBTQ groups, including GLAD (GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders), filed her case. After the case was unsealed, GLAD confirmed that O’Toole issued a temporary restraining injunction on Sunday, which will remain in effect while he decides whether or not to issue a more permanent injunction.

Amanda Johnston said, “The order required them to keep our client in a general population facility for women and maintain her medical care.”