Obamacare Transgender Bias Rule Violates Religious Freedom Law

Christian health care professionals don’t have to perform transgender-related care that is contrary to their religious beliefs, a federal district court in Texas said, invalidating an Obamacare anti-discrimination rule.

The so-called “transgender mandate” implementing the Affordable Care Act’s anti-discrimination provision violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas said Oct. 15.

Judge Reed C. O’Connor vacated the rule, which interpreted the ACA’s Section 1557 as prohibiting providers and insurers from denying care or coverage based on gender identity or termination of pregnancy.

O’Connor stood by his December ...