Federal Appeals Court Upholds Ruling in Favor of Transgender Deputy's Surgery Coverage

The decision affirms that denying gender-affirming care under employee health plans violates federal civil rights law.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling requiring Houston County, Georgia, to cover a deputy's gender-affirming surgery.
Sgt. Anna Lange sued the county in 2019 after her insurance plan denied coverage for her transition-related procedure.
The court's decision is the first federal appellate ruling mandating transgender-inclusive health care coverage under the Civil Rights Act.
The ruling is binding in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, impacting employer-provided health plans in these states.
Lange has served in law enforcement for 26 years, coming out as transgender in 2017 and facing significant legal battles for her rights.