Overview

• 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.