Arkansas

Judge strikes down gender-affirming care ban in Arkansas

Published

2 years ago

June 20, 2023

Judge strikes down gender-affirming care ban in Arkansas

A federal district court judge on Tuesday struck down an Arkansas law that banned gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

The judge said the law violates the constitutional rights of transgender youth, their parents and their medical providers.

“I’m so grateful the judge heard my experience of how this health care has changed my life for the better and saw the dangerous impact this law could have on my life and that of countless other transgender people,” Dylan Brandt, a 17-year-old transgender boy from Arkansas and plaintiff in the lawsuit, said in a statement.

He continued, “Transgender kids across the country are having their own futures threatened by laws like this one, and it’s up to all of us to speak out, fight back, and give them hope.”

At least 17 other states have passed similar laws, several of which are under preliminary injunctions.

The Arkansas law also barred state funds and insurance coverage for gender-affirming care and allowed private insurers to refuse to cover such care for people of any age.

The law was vetoed by then-Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, citing the potentially dangerous consequences for trans youth in the state and calling it “a vast government overreach” and “a product of the cultural war in America.” His veto was overturned by state lawmakers.

Republicans who backed the bill said they want young people to wait until they are older to begin gender-affirming care.

National medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, argue that gender-affirming care is safe, effective, beneficial and medically necessary.

Transgender youth are more likely to experience anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation and attempts, health experts say. Gender-affirming hormone therapy has been proven to improve the mental health of transgender youth, according to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The restrictions were challenged in a lawsuit backed by four families of transgender youth, two doctors, the American Civil Liberties Union and the law firms of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Gill Ragon Owen and the Walas Law Firm.

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Arkansas

WATCH: Oklahoma HC Porter Moser, Players Central Arkansas Postgame

Published

4 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Press Room

WATCH: Oklahoma HC Porter Moser, Players Central Arkansas Postgame

CARSON FIELD

Carson Field has worked full-time in the sports media industry since 2020 in Colorado, Texas and Wyoming as well as nationally, and he has earned degrees from Arizona State University and Texas A&M University. When he isn’t covering the Sooners, he’s likely golfing, fishing or doing something else outdoors.
Twitter: https://x.com/carsondfield

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Arkansas

Purdue football adds another linebacker from Arkansas

Published

12 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Purdue football adds another linebacker from Arkansas

WEST LAFAYETTE − Purdue football continues to stockpile Arkansas linebackers.

After snagging Razorback Alex Sanford out of the transfer portal, the Boilermakers picked up a commitment from Carson Dean.

Dean was a redshirt freshman for Arkansas this season and played in two games.

Dean, from Frisco, Texas, was a three star prospect by 247Sports out of Hebron High who had 17 offers, including Purdue.

In high school, Dean was an all-district outside linebacker after compiling 85 tackles, including 21 for loss as a senior in 2022.

At the time of his commitment, Barry Odom was Arkansas’ defensive coordinator and Mike Scherer, recently hired as Purdue’s defensive coordinator, was the Arkansas linebackers coach.

Scherer recruited Dean to Arkansas.

Odom’s staff, in need of linebackers after Kydran Jenkins graduated and Yanni Karlaftis transferred to Northwestern.

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.

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Arkansas

Purdue lands pledge from Arkansas LB transfer Alex Sanford

Published

20 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Purdue lands pledge from Arkansas LB transfer Alex Sanford

Purdue is starting to pick up steam on the transfer portal market as former Arkansas linebacker Alex Sanford announced his commitment to the Boilermakers following an official visit to West Lafayette this weekend.

Sanford becomes Purdue’s second transfer portal pickup of the cycle and second from Arkansas, following quarterback Malachi Singleton, who announced his commitment to the Boilermakers earlier this week.

The redshirt freshman linebacker had committed to Arkansas to play for Barry Odom and Mike Scherer when the two were coaching in Fayetteville. Two years later he now follows the Boilermakers’ new head coach and defensive coordinator to West Lafayette at a position of need.

Purdue had a thin linebacker corps this season, which saw Kydran Jenkins and Yanni Karlaftis depart this off-season. Sanford now joins Hudson Miller, Winston Berglund and Owen Davis as players with experience at the linebacker position for the Boilermakers heading into 2025.

Sanford has had a minimal role on defense during his career, playing just nine snaps, but he has carved out a consistent role on special teams. Sanford had the third most special teams snaps of any Razorback in 2024, and 328 across his two seasons, serving on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return and punt coverage units, holding a 65.2 Pro Football Focus grade in that regard.

Sanford will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Boilermakers.

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