Court orders state to pay more than $1.3M in attorneys’ fees in gender-affirming care case

In a landmark decision, Montana's state government has been ordered to pay over $1.3 million in legal fees after a court ruled against the state in a lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 99, which was deemed an unconstitutional ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The lawsuit was brought by several prominent civil rights organizations including the ACLU of Montana and Lambda Legal. This ruling not only underscores the ongoing legal battles over LGBTQ+ rights but also highlights the financial and legal toll such challenges can impose on state governments, signaling a significant victory for advocates fighting for the rights of transgender youth.