January 1, Supreme Court declines to hear case involving transgender rights, Catholic hospital

The Supreme Court declined to hear a case involving transgender rights, leaving in place a lower court’s decision against a Catholic hospital that wouldn’t allow a transgender man to have a hysterectomy there.

In California, Mercy San Juan Medical Center disallowed the procedure because it was an “elective sterilzation” that violated the hospital’s ethical and religious views.

Three days later, the patient, Evan Minton, got the procedure and a different hospital. He sued under a state law that bans discrimination. A trial court agreed with the hospital that a three-day delay in the surgery didn’t result in a denial of “full and equal” access to health care. Later, an appeals court reversed that ruling.

Though the Supreme Court declined to hear the case, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch said they would have heard it.

The decision is the latest victory for transgender rights groups. In June, the high court declined a Virginia school board’s appeal to reinstate its transgender bathroom ban.

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Supreme Court won’t hear case involving transgender rights