The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that the state's largest provider of gender-affirming care must resume medical treatments for transgender minors, finding that the hospital's decision to suspend services violated state antidiscrimination law and inflicted immediate harm on vulnerable young patients.
Children's Hospital Colorado had suspended medical treatments including puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender patients under 18 in January after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services opened an investigation into its treatments. The suspension came amid a series of clashes between President Donald Trump's administration and advocates over transgender health care for children.
Young Patients Left Without Care
Four transgender girls, ranging from age 10 to 17, sued the hospital through their parents, alleging violations of the state's antidiscrimination law. The lawsuit argued the hospital refused to provide treatment both because of their gender identity and their disability, gender dysphoria. The girls described fearing they would be unable to access medication and monitoring to prevent them from undergoing puberty and developing male traits. They cited severe mental health consequences, including depression and suicidal ideation.
The court ruled 5-2 that shuttering the services for minors violated state antidiscrimination law. In the majority opinion, Justice William Wood III wrote, "We conclude that the actual immediate and irreparable harm to petitioners outweighs the speculative harm CHC may face if the federal government further acts against it."
Federal Pressure and State Protections
Children's Hospital Colorado said HHS opened the investigation after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a declaration calling treatments like puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries unsafe and ineffective for children and adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria. The hospital's TRUE Center, which focuses on gender-affirming care, is one of the largest programs in the country and the only comprehensive care center in the Rocky Mountain region, according to the lawsuit.
An Oregon-based federal judge ruled in March for Colorado and 20 other states that Kennedy's declaration went too far. A Kansas judge also sided with transgender minors in a ruling last week, adding to a growing body of judicial decisions protecting access to gender-affirming care.
Hospital Weighs Next Steps
The hospital said it was reviewing Monday's court ruling and considering its next steps. It previously said it would continue to provide mental health treatment for minors and medical treatment for patients aged 18 to 21.
In dissent, Justice Brian Boatright said the hospital did not make its decision to stop the care because of the gender identity of the patients. He wrote, "It was a decision driven by the direct threat to the viability of the entire hospital."
Why This Matters:
This ruling affirms that state antidiscrimination protections can shield vulnerable young people from federal actions that threaten their access to medically necessary care. The decision recognizes the documented harm—including depression and suicidal ideation—that transgender youth face when denied treatment. With the hospital's TRUE Center serving as the only comprehensive care provider in the Rocky Mountain region, the suspension left families with nowhere to turn for specialized medical support. The ruling establishes that immediate, documented harm to patients outweighs speculative financial threats to institutions, setting a precedent as other states navigate similar conflicts between federal pressure and state protections for LGBTQ+ rights and healthcare access.