April 27 (UPI) -- The Justice Department is stepping in to block a Tennessee law that bans "critically, medically necessary" youth transgender care.
The department filed a complaint Wednesday, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee Nashville Division, to challenge Tennessee's recently enacted law that "denies medical care to youth based solely on who they are."
The complaint specifically challenges Tennessee Senate Bill 1, which was signed by Republican Gov. Bill Lee last month and bans certain care for transgender minors, because it violates the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.
The department also asked the court Wednesday to issue an immediate order to keep the law from going into effect on July 1.
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