A federal district court in Bismarck, North Dakota, ruled on Monday that the Biden administration cannot force religious employers and healthcare providers to fund gender transition procedures through insurance and other means.
This has been deemed a significant win for religious freedom.
The ruling came resulted from a lawsuit filed by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) lawyers representing the Christian Employers Alliance (CEA), challenging two mandates imposed by the administration.
The court sided with CEA, recognising that their religious beliefs were substantially burdened by the threat of financial penalties for refusing to compromise their religious convictions.
ADF Senior Counsel, Matt Bowman, emphasised the constitutionally protected freedom of employers and healthcare providers to adhere to their religious beliefs in conducting their businesses and providing treatment.
He stated: "The court was on firm ground to stop the administration from enforcing these unlawful mandates that disrespect people of faith".
The lawsuit, which was filed in October 2021, challenged the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's interpretation of discrimination based on sex.
It also contested the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' expansion of the definition of ‘sex’ in federal law to include gender identity, which would force religious employers to pay for and provide health insurance coverage for such surgeries and procedures.
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”.
This landmark decision reinforced the fundamental right of religious organisations to uphold their beliefs in the face of governmental overreach, ensuring continued protection for the religious liberties of employers and healthcare providers across the USA.