Published on March 6, 2024, 12:51 am

In a pivotal ruling that broke on Monday, a Federal Judge in North Dakota delivered a judgment preventing the Biden administration from forcing Christian employers and healthcare providers to fund transgender surgeries.

Presiding over the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Judge Daniel Traynor sided with the Christian Employers Alliance. The alliance had disputed the interpretation of federal discrimination law by the current administration. In his ruling, Traynor, who was appointed during Trump’s tenure, maintained that religious liberty protections shielded these Christian groups from being obligated to offer “gender transition services.”

Furthermore, he opposed the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Health and Human Services’ interpretation of discrimination law. According to their understanding, all employers would be obliged to cover transgender surgeries. Disagreeing with this stance, Traynor argued that such a requirement significantly burdened the Christian Employers Alliance’s “religious beliefs.”

Upholding his stance through his written judgment, Traynor highlighted how CEA members firmly believe in male and female being unchangeable realities determined by biological sex. Similarly, they view gender reassignment as inconsistent with their Christian Values.

The lawsuit finds its origins back in October 2021 when it was first filed by the Christian Employers Alliance. They raised objections against both Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s understanding of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act obligating employers to fund transgender surgeries as well as Health and Human Services’ association of ‘sex’ with ‘gender identity’ for discrimination reasons.

The decision elicited celebration within the Union; representative for them at court -the Alliance Defending Freedom-echoed jubilant sentiments. Their boss praised the decision: “We are thrilled our members will not have to choose between their faith-rooted employee benefits they offer or facing huge costs due for practicing their faith,” according to President Shannon Royce.

Finally commenting on this development which is dominating real news outlets across America seems ADF’s Matt Bowman. As the Senior Counsel and Director of Regulatory Practice, he lauded the court for standing against Biden administration mandates.

His trusted news commentary included: “All employers, healthcare providers, inclusive of those in the Christian Employers Alliance have a constitutionally backed right to conduct their affairs in accordance with their deeply held religious beliefs.” He emphasized that these employers believe firmly that humans are intentionally created as either male or female by God; hence, funding surgeries that aim to change one’s sex goes against their faith.

In sum, this ruling is a substantial development in terms of securing religious liberties for Christian employers within a changing sociopolitical landscape marked by diverse worldviews.