FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2023
Contact: Laura Macklem
[email protected]

NC VALUES URGES COURT TO OVERTURN DECISION ALLOWING STATE FUNDING FOR TRANSGENDER REASSIGNMENT MEDICAL SERVICES

RALEIGH, N.C. – Oral arguments were heard yesterday in Kadel v. Folwell, a case challenging North Carolina government health coverage, funding transgender medical services. The U.S. Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit is considering an appeal by State Treasurer Dale Folwell to overturn a decision by a federal judge which forces taxpayers to fund gender dysphoria treatments including sex changes for state employees. Folwell says these treatments are elective and raise the costs of healthcare for state employees.

Executive Director of NC Values Coalition Tami Fitzgearld voiced support for Folwell’s challenge to the decision.

“Taxpayers should not be forced to fund elective sex changes and hormone therapy which often result in emotional devastation and regret after healthy body parts are amputated, and permanent damage is done. In doing so, we are also enabling the culture’s dangerous narrative that gender is fluid, and that medical procedures can actually change someone’s gender,” said Fitzgerald. “These procedures not only damage the gender confused, but also open the state up to liability for genital mutilation and emotional distress, which often cause long-term medical problems.”

An increasing number of people who have undergone hormone treatments and transitioning surgery are publicly regretting their transitions, like Walt Heyer who lives in North Carolina. Said Fitzgerald, “The State should not be a participant and enabler of permanent genital mutilation and emotional distress.”

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