Published on July 27, 2024, 1:01 am

In a definitive ruling on Friday, the Nebraska Supreme Court reinforced a ban on both transgender medical procedures for minors and abortion. The law sets a clear boundary, forbidding abortions post 12 weeks and excluding transgender surgeries as well as puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for individuals under 18 years of age.

The contentious legislation saw a suit filed against it by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, an organization operating across Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois, with representation from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The prime contention was that this law trespassed the limits of the state constitution by addressing more than one issue. However, including abortion and transgender medical procedures under one judicature was justified by the state as both matters pertain to healthcare.

“As long as there is just one general objective of a bill regardless of its scope, containing only relevant matters and with a title accurately reflecting its subject matter it does not infringe upon the state constitution,” Chief Justice Mike Heavican explained in his judgement.

Pro-life proponents have welcomed this decision with open arms. “The court’s ruling is a win for unborn children in Nebraska and their mothers who can now be saved from late-stage abortions,” remarked Adam Schwend, western regional director at SBA Pro-Life America. According to Schwend’s observation based on statistics from last year, thanks to this law there was already significant decline in late-term abortions in Nebraska.

Data indeed exhibited almost a 9% decrease in abortions during the previous year in contrast with 2022 figures. These were retained even while women seeking abortions travelled from neighboring Iowa where there existed stricter six-week anti-abortion laws.

Schwend further asserted that these protective measures need to be persistently upheld to ensure defense against attempts made by pro-abortion factions wanting to overturn such progress. Supporters believe such defenses are crucial in what they consider “the greatest human rights struggle of our time”.

Simultaneously though there has been substantial concern globally, in particular in Europe, over the increasing number of children with gender dysphoria undergoing transgender surgeries and hormone treatments. These surgical procedures are irreversible with enduring health risks associated with puberty blockers and hormone therapies including impaired bone growth and density, sexual dysfunction, voice abnormalities, infertility as well as a range of serious ailments.

Thanks to these laws Nebraska joins an expanding list of states harboring Republican-led legislatures that have either outlawed abortion or transgender medical interventions or both for minors. Approximately 25 states have clamped down on transgender surgeries and hormone treatments with Florida, Ohio, and Montana facing legal hurdles challenging these bans. Interestingly enough however these bans continue to be upheld currently.

Concurrently nearly 24 states have instituted anti-abortion laws too which similarly are entangled in legal battles particularly in Montana, Wyoming, and Iowa. Despite the challenges confronting it this brings us real news secured from a trusted news source delivered through the lens of a Christian worldview offering valuable insights into current issues permeating our society today.