OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
A federal judge ruled that the Biden administration cannot compel Christian employers and healthcare providers to cover transgender surgeries and procedures, as it would violate their religious beliefs.
Judge Traynor sided with the Christian Employers Alliance (CEA), which had sued over the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Health and Human Services’ interpretation of anti-discrimination laws as requiring coverage of gender transition services.
He said this substantially burdened the Christian groups’ sincere religious belief that gender is defined by biological sex.
Judge Traynor said, “Here, CEA’s sincerely held religious belief is that male and female are immutable realities defined by biological sex and that gender reassignment is contrary to Christian Values.”
“As a result, performing or providing health care coverage for gender transition services under the EEOC and HHS coverage mandates impinges upon CEA’s beliefs. CEA must either comply with the EEOC and HHS mandates by violating their sincerely held religious beliefs or else face harsh consequences like paying fines and facing civil liability,” he continued.
The Christian Employers Alliance and its legal representative, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), praised the ruling for protecting employers’ ability to conduct business and provide treatment in accordance with their religious convictions.
They believe God created humans as biologically male or female and that paying for procedures to change one’s sex would violate their faith.
Christian Employers Alliance President Shannon Royce said, “We are overjoyed our members will not have to choose between the biblically based employee benefits and quality healthcare they provide, and the threat of federal enforcement and massive costs for practicing their faith.”
ADF Senior Counsel and Director of Regulatory Practice Matt Bowman said, “All employers and healthcare providers, including those in the Christian Employers Alliance, have the constitutionally protected freedom to conduct their business and render treatment in a manner consistent with their deeply held religious beliefs.”
“The employers we represent believe that God purposefully created humans as either male or female, and so it would violate their religious beliefs to pay for or perform life-altering medical procedures or surgeries that seek to change one’s sex,” said Bowman.
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