The U.S. Department of Justice is challenging an Alabama law making it a felony for doctors to treat transgender people under age 19 with puberty blockers and hormones to affirm their gender identity.

The Justice Department on Friday filed a motion seeking to intervene in an ongoing lawsuit challenging the law and seeking to block it from taking effect on May 8. The Justice Department said the law discriminates against minors by denying them access to medically necessary care.

Alabama Republicans who support the law say it's needed to protect children. A spokeswoman for Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said her office is prepared to defend the legislation.

“The law discriminates against transgender minors by unjustifiably denying them access to certain forms of medically necessary care,” the complaint states. “As a result of S.B. 184, medical professionals, parents, and minors old enough to make their own medical decisions are forced to choose between forgoing medically necessary procedures and treatments or facing criminal prosecution."

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —

A Florida law banning transgender youth from getting medical treatment is temporarily on hold after a surprise decision Tuesday by a federal judge.

The ruling comes amid a bevy of legislation sweeping state houses this year restricting gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

Meanwhile LGBTQ+ communities and their allies are organizing Pride events and calling for pushback against what they say are discriminatory laws.

Here's a look at the latest developments:

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WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FLORIDA?

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked portions of a new Florida law that bans transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers.

"Gender identity is real," Judge Robert Hinkle said, ruling that the state has no rational basis for denying patients treatment.

In the video player above: Human Rights Campaign declares a national state of emergency in the U.S. for LGBTQ+ community

Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction saying three transgender children can continue receiving treatment.

The lawsuit brought by the three children's parents challenges the law Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed shortly before he announced a run for president.

The judge's decision focuses on the use of GnRH agonists, known as puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones. The litigation focuses on language involving minors and doesn't address other wording that makes it difficult to nearly impossible for adults to receive or continue gender-affirming care.

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LOUISIANA'S RESTRICTIONS

A bill banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths in Louisiana has passed in the Senate and is heading to the governor's desk.

The measure would prohibit hormone treatments, gender-affirming surgery and puberty-blocking drugs for minors.

The House, which has already passed it, is expected to approve some amendments before the bill goes before Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who opposes it.

Edwards has not said whether he would veto the legislation. If he does, lawmakers could convene a veto session to try to override his decision.

Last session, the governor chose not to block a law banning transgender athletes from participating in women and girls sports competitions in Louisiana, although he successfully vetoed a similar measure the year before.

Louisiana legislators are also expected to give final passage to two other anti-LGTBQ+ measures — a "Don't Say Gay" bill and one restricting pronoun usage.

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AN LGTBQ+ 'EMERGENCY'

The Human Rights Campaign has declared a " state of emergency " for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S., calling on people in government and the business community to fight for equal rights.

"We need champions right now," HRC President Kelley Robinson said.

The campaign released a guidebook for LGBTQ+ Americans to help them navigate laws it deems discriminatory in certain states. It includes a "know your rights" information section and resources to help people relocate to states with stronger LGBTQ+ protections.

The nation's largest organization devoted to LGBTQ+ rights said travel advisories aren't enough to help people already living in states where lawmakers have targeted LGBTQ+ people.

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FLAG FLAP IN MISSISSIPPI

Some residents are protesting after the Veterans Administration flew an LGBTQ+ pride flag at Mississippi's Biloxi National Cemetery.

All the Republicans in the state's congressional delegation have signed a letter demanding the VA remove the flag. The delegation's only Democrat, Rep. Bennie Thompson, did not sign it.

The rainbow flag was added to a lineup of several U.S. flags last week to mark June as Pride Month.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough McDonough has authorized flying the pride flag at all VA facilities throughout June, as he has done in previous years.

The VA said in a statement that it's flying the flag to show its commitment "to inclusion and as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of LGBTQ+ Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors."

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WHERE TRANSGENDER BANS STAND NATIONALLY

Hundreds of bills have been proposed restricting the rights of transgender people, and LGBTQ+ advocates say they've seen a record number of such measures in statehouses.

In addition to Florida, at least 18 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, South Dakota and West Virginia.

Federal judges have blocked enforcement of laws in Alabama and Arkansas, and Oklahoma has agreed to not enforce its ban while opponents seek a temporary court order blocking it.

Every major doctors' group, including the American Medical Association, has opposed the bans and supported the care for youth when administered appropriately.

Lawsuits have been filed in several states where bans have been enacted this year.

Numerous states across the country are moving to ban gender-affirming care for transgender individuals.

In response, other states are now pushing to become sanctuaries for people seeking that health care.

"There's been a resurgence of a lot of anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ bills," said Brianna Titone, a Democratic state representative and Colorado's first openly transgender state lawmaker. "There are other bills in other states that are saying anybody who is trans cannot get any type of health care services for trans care up to age 25. So, we're not just talking about trans youth, but we're talking about trans adults."

Lawmakers across the country are working to address legal protections for transgender people, parents of transgender youth and providers of gender-affirming care. The protections stem from changes this year on the federal and state levels regarding abortion rights and gender-affirming care.

SEE MORE: Advocates Worry About The Effects Of State Laws Targeting LGBTQ Youth

"When the Dobbs decision came down, that scared a lot of people into what is possible that the Supreme Court can do to undo a lot of the protections that have already been done," Titone said.

According to the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, these initiatives are led by many openly LGBTQ+ lawmakers. These bills would ban law enforcement from arresting people who go out of state to pursue gender-affirming care where it's legal.

"Texas would consider gender-affirming care for trans kids and trans youth to be child abuse," said Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute. "That it would be investigated by the state, then those kids could be taken away from their families. Our legislators are looking for opportunities to send a public message that their states, if at all possible, will become safe havens for those families."

"It's a struggle for a lot of people that I talk to on a daily basis in a lot of different states," Titone said. "I think about that myself, not being able to get the care that I need. I may be able to get through that mentally, but there's a lot of people who can't. There are a lot of people that their gender dysphoria is so bad they result to harming themselves in deep depression. And that can ruin a person."

SEE MORE: The Effect Of Transgender Athlete Bans On Youth Sports

According to the Trevor Project, 52% of transgender and non-binary youth have considered suicide. The report also shows that for people under age 18, receiving hormones was associated with nearly 40% lower odds of recent depression and a past-year suicide attempt.

According to writings from Moira Szilagyi, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, there is a strong consensus that "evidence-based, gender-affirming care for transgender children and adolescents is medically necessary and appropriate. It can even be lifesaving." Szilagyi noted that it doesn't necessarily mean hormone therapy or surgery.

This is why Titone is pushing for protection in her state for gender-affirming care, continuing the trend that has happened in 18 other states.

"We're going to take a stance of putting up a barrier to make sure whatever kind of crazy things they come up with to try to go after people," Titone said. "Whether they're providers here or patients coming here, we're going to make sure that we protect them in any situation we can and stay within the constitution. And that's the tricky part, doing this without breaking any constitutional laws."

MONTPELIER, Vt. — In many states across the country, there is a push to eliminate the so-called "panic defense." It is a legal defense used after committing a crime against someone because of their sexual identity.

It often comes into play when a criminal defendant claims they panicked after learning an intimate partner’s sexual identity or gender at birth.

“We were the first state to actually pass marriage equality and civil unions on a legislative level,” said Vermont state legislator Rep. Taylor Small.

Small is Vermont's first openly transgender state legislator and she was able to unanimously pass a bill that bans the "panic defense."

Vermont became the 13th state to ban the legal maneuver.

According to LGBTQ+ Bar, juries have acquitted dozens of defendants who used the strategy. The most recent acquittal happened in April 2018.

“When I came to work in the statehouse four years ago, one of the first topics we took the state's attorney general was trans or gay panic defense,” said Brenda Churchill who is with the LGBTQ+ Alliance. “We wanted it to go through statute or law, to eliminate the possibility that the criminal defendant could use that as an excuse.”

After Vermont, two more states banned the "panic defense."

Small said that this is something that is pivotal in LGBTQ+ rights.

“I think what it really underscores is the ability to trust our judicial system or just have more trust,” Small said. “So, I would love to see this passed in all the states in our nation, but I would also love to see this protection on a federal level, so it doesn’t have to be this individual state battle. I know that Senator Ed Markey already has a bill introducing banning the "panic defense," but I think what we see on the federal level is that it is slow to move on various bills.”

According to LGBTQ+ Bar, 12 more states have introduced bills banning the "panic defense," and advocates like Keith Goslant said those states can look to places like Vermont for help.

“We have created a bit of a template on how you can approach it,” Goslant said. “We have a template of the people you can invite in, and other model of pieces of legislation we looked at in crafting our bill. These are the components that made it right for us, and this is what we can present to other states and to help on federal level.”

“We don’t see it as a single movement or a single moment,” Small said. “But this is continue work that we need to ever change and ever learn through.”

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa —

A transgender student at an Iowa high school has been ordered to stop using the men's restroom or face possible disciplinary action.

The sudden decision this week by Spirit Lake High School brought to an end more than one and a half years Ethan Stucker was allowed to use those restrooms in the school building.

"It really upset me," Stucker told sister station KCCI. "And I had no idea that that was coming, so it really caught me off guard."

He and his mother, Jennifer Larson, said the change came out of the blue and without explanation.

"I was not aware that there was any issue prior to them calling Ethan," Larson said. "And after the fact, Ethan called me from school and he was crying and very upset."

School officials declined interviews and conversations about the situation.

Superintendent David Smith sent the following statement:

"We are investigating the current regulations and are sensitive to both sides of the issue. We have and continue to provide multiple restroom facilities attempting to accommodate both positions on the issue so all our students feel emotionally and physically safe."

Larson said the decision is unacceptable and that the family is considering its options.

"There was a concern that somebody felt uncomfortable," she said. "And that's not how the law is written, for comfort level."

Despite being told to use a separate restroom, Stucker has refused.

"And I don't plan to," he said. "Because I have every right to be treated the same as every other male student in there."

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Late last week, civil rights groups filed a lawsuit against a Tennessee law that restricts transgender students’ playing organized sports.

Transgender rights advocates argue that these laws are discriminatory and rob children of the benefits of social connections, persistence and physical and mental well-being. Through a national education campaign launched this week, transgender and non-binary student-athletes are speaking out.

From an early age, 17-year-old Sivan loved playing sports.

“I played basketball and football during recess and Little League Baseball and soccer,” said Sivan

But in 7^th grade, the Massachusetts teen felt it was time to transition.

“I said, ‘Hey, mom. Hey, dad, I know you know me as a female, but that's actually not right. I'm a boy.’”

He was nervous that he’d be made fun of; that people wouldn't accept him and what this could mean for his athletics.

“I definitely worried about it,” the teen said. “I knew I wanted to make the switch from the girls' team to the boys' team because that was where I belonged.”

Already, 10 states have passed laws limiting trans youth from school sports. Another 21 states have considered similar bills this year.

“What these bills do is they basically allow people's gender to be questioned, and that's happened to me and that's violating and embarrassing,” said Rebekah.

The 14-year-old New Jersey 9th-grader and transgender youth activist has been playing field hockey since fourth grade. She’s now on her school’s freshman team.

“When it comes down to it, she's just a player on the field like any other girl out there,” said her mother, Jamie.

Along with other transgender and non-binary student-athletes and their parents, Rebekah and Sivan are trying to educate others about the issue.

“We want to let our kids live their lives and figure it out on their own. And when they do, they're all stronger for it,” said Alisa, Sivan’s mother. “My kid who's trans, your kid is not trans, they're all going to figure it out and live a better life and build a better world because of it.”

The ‘Play it Out’ campaign launched this week promotes the idea that all children, including transgender and non-binary kids, should have equal access to organized sports and athletics.

“These lawmakers are only thinking about the threat that trans kids are,” said Rebekah. “But we're not. We're just happy, smiling young people trying to be ourselves and play sports and have fun while doing it.”

“Rebekah's awesome. And she works really hard, and she's a fantastic defensive player, but she's not the star of the team. She's not out there crushing people. She is working so hard to keep up and to contribute positively,” said Rebekah's mother.

Through the ‘Play it Out’ campaign, these young activists are fighting for a chance to step out on the field and be their authentic selves.

Sivan advice to young transgender athletes is to persevere.

“Don't give up because there's these adults saying that you can’t and trying to make these rules that you can’t. And if you love it, don't give up on it.”

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Reverend Dr. Megan Rohrer is the bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod, overseeing nearly 200 evangelical Lutheran congregations from Central California and Nevada up to Oregon.

The bishop is making history.

“It made the history books because I'm the first openly transgender bishop in the Lutheran Church and maybe in all of the mainline churches across the world,” Rohrer said.

Rohrer says becoming bishop as a transgender person was not something they anticipated so soon.

“It was a shock," Rohrer said. "It was just a very unexpected thing for me when I was elected, but a very gratifying process to have so many people believe in my leadership skills and be ready for this.”

Rohrer’s pronouns are “they” and “them” instead of “he” or “she” because they don't want to be put in a box.

“The ideas and the expectations about what it means to be male or what it means to be female are not fully something that I identify with.”

Rohrer says there have been challenges on their faith journey when people debate their worth as a transgender person. However, Rohrer says they’ll continue to live the life God called them to live by being a faithful person consistently.

“God and I are good," Rohrer said. "And so when someone wants to send me a Bible verse to tell me where I'm wrong, I want to send them some of my favorite Bible verses not to like, have a debate with them because, you know, God never once said, 'Let's take a vote before deciding who God loves.' But because like, that's exactly why I think the Bible is such an important book. Like because the people that are going to preach the opposite of me for the rest of my life are just as loved by God as I am. And the book that I think is sacred fills their heart just as much as it fills my heart.”

Rohrer says their relationship with God has been strong ever since they were a child, and they don’t doubt God loves them.

“When I was about six, my parents were getting divorced and it was a very violent divorce, and there was this period where like, everything in the house got destroyed and we were going back to the house to see if there were any toys or anything like we could take with us. And I just had this deep knowing that like, God loved me and was with me. And if all this stuff in our house was broken like as a 6-year-old to lose all your toys, it's a big deal, right? But I just had this deep knowing like like that Jesus was on my side and that I didn't need toys because like Jesus was there.”

Rohrer says their role as bishop is a big step in the church, opening the doors for other LGBTQ leaders and spreading the message that God loves everyone. Rohrer hopes that in the future, gender identity isn’t as big of a deal. And that others realize God can work through all the diversity of creation.

“Folk who use scripture just to belittle or to be racist or to exclude, I think, are being spiritually abusive, and I hope to be the kind of bishop who can care for people who have heard those messages to work for healing," Rohrer said. "Living faithfully consistently changes the church more than debating.”

Rohrer says if what Jesus says is true, then love is the greatest commandment and Rohrer plans to honor that.

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Dr. Rachel Levine as assistant secretary of health at the Department of Health and Human Services, the first out transgender federal official to be confirmed by the chamber.

The vote was 52-48.

Levine, a pediatrician, previously served as Pennsylvania's secretary of health and as physician general — the state's top health official and top doctor.

"The confirmation of Rachel Levine represents another important milestone for the American LGBTQ community," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. "As transgender Americans suffer higher rates of abuse, homelessness and depression than almost every other group, it's important to have national figures like Dr. Levine who by virtue of being in the public spotlight will help break down barriers of ignorance and fear."

File video: Former Pa. secretary of health testifies at Senate confirmation hearing

After her nomination, Levine said she was proud of the work she's done to address the COVID-19 pandemic and opioid epidemic, fight diseases like HIV, prevent diseases through childhood immunization and raise awareness of LGBTQ issues. She graduated from Harvard College and the Tulane University School of Medicine, and completed her training in pediatrics and adolescent medicine at the Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Levine's gender identity came up during her nomination hearing when Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul began his questioning by saying, "Genital mutilation has been nearly universally condemned." He then went on to ask, "Dr. Levine, do you believe that minors are capable of making such a life changing decision as changing one's sex?" The question drew criticism from Democrats, who said the Republican senator had misrepresented gender confirmation surgery as genital mutilation.

"Transgender medicine is a very complex and nuanced field with robust research and standards of care that have been developed," Levine responded to the senator's question. "If I am fortunate enough to be confirmed as the assistant secretary of health, I will look forward to working with you and your office and coming to your office and discussing the particulars of the standards of care for transgender medicine."

Most medical professionals disagree with Paul's comparison, including Dr. Jason Rafferty, who authored the American Association of Pediatricians' policy statement on transgender and gender diverse youth health care. The World Health Organization, which the Kentucky senator cited, also distinguishes between the two practices, outlining best practices for the gender-affirming health care in 2017 while opposing all forms of female genital mutilation.

Video above from 2019: CeCe Telfer wins women's 400-meter hurdles at NCAA championshipIn 2019, track and field athlete CeCe Telfer became the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA title (in the 400m hurdles, her signature event).Now, she's got her eyes on the top podium in the world — the 2021 Tokyo Olympic games. If she qualifies, she could become one of the first openly transgender athletes to compete in any Olympic event, ever. Even if she doesn't, Telfer is already making history.Outside of working tirelessly at her sport, she's using her voice to create change in the world of athletics, a world that has historically been riddled with discrimination and prejudice against trans athletes. It's a reality Telfer knows all too well. Though her college track team at Franklin Pierce University was supportive of her running, as she shares in a profile for the New York Times, she struggled to find a coach who would guide her on her Olympic journey, as well as adequate training resources.She’s also been subjected to additional regulations: As mandated by the International Olympic Committee’s eligibility requirements, in order to compete, she had to suppress her testosterone levels and sustain them for at least a year. Though there is little conclusive evidence to support the notion that transgender athletes have a competitive advantage in sports, it hasn’t stopped a recent wave of restrictive, anti-trans sports bans and laws (up to 80) across various levels of competition in the United States.Earlier this month, Florida passed legislation that bars trans women from competing on women’s teams in public schools and colleges. The bans are discriminatory and stigmatizing to transgender athletes, many of whom just want to do what they love without constant comment and questions. As Telfer told the New York Times, a huge motivator for her to compete is to empower young transgender athletes to chase their own dreams. "It’s important for me to do it for my people — whether it be women, Black people, transgender people, LGBTQ people —anybody who is scrutinized and oppressed."At this point, it's unclear whether or not Telfer will get the chance to compete at the Olympic trials, which begin this weekend in Eugene, Oregon. (Her event is on June 25th.) To qualify to race in the trials, athletes must have a time of 56.50, and Telfer's best clocks in a second behind.However, due to pandemic-related training challenges, USA Track and Field has stated that as many as 28 athletes could race at trials; Telfer is 28th in the field. Regardless of whether she races at trials or ultimately makes the Olympic team (she'd have to finish in the top three at trials), Telfer has changed the future of athletics. She’s one of a handful of openly transgender Olympic hopefuls whose journey serves as a source of inspiration for other aspiring athletes. (Trans cycling athlete Chelsea Wolfe was just selected as an alternate for the U.S. Women’s BMX Freestyle team.)Telfer is already lending her voice and sharing her story in hopes of creating long-lasting, systemic change in the world of both noncompetitive and professional athletics. She is working to make sports a safe space for everyone who wishes to compete. Win or lose, Telfer is already blazing the track (and, trail!) for a more inclusive future. And that's something truly medal-worthy.

The month of June is Pride month, dedicated to the members of the LGBTQ+ community. As you celebrate this year, don't forget about your transgender friends, family and community members.Pink, blue and white are the colors that make up the Transgender Pride flag. Read on to hear about the history of the now iconic flag and what the colors on it actually mean.What is the history of the flag? Navy veteran and transgender woman, Monica Helms created the Transgender Pride flag in 1999. She told the Daily Beast in 2017 that the idea for the flag just "came to " one morning as she woke up. "Not a dream," she clarified, calling it more of a "divine intervention." "When you wake up and you’re still sort of groggy and everything but you’re starting to think and your mind is starting to fill with images — that’s when it came to me."Monica brought the flag with her to the 2000 Phoenix Pride parade, where she flew it for the first time. That original flag was acquired by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in 2014.How did it gain popularity?When Monica brought the flag to Phoenix Pride in 2000, many were immediately interested in the design. "This was for me and if nobody had embraced it, it still would have been OK for me. It would have been my flag," she told the Daily Beast. "But then, people started seeing it and they thought the pattern was great and they liked the reason for the colors and it just took off." Monica continued to take the flag to various parades and events and eventually, the design caught on. "The speed with which the flag’s usage spared never fails to surprise me, and every time I see it, or a photo of it, flying above a historic town hall or building I am filled with pride," she said in her 2019 memoir "More Than Just A Flag."What do the colors mean? Monica purposefully designed the flag so that, no matter how you hold it, it looks the same. "This symbolizes us trying to find correctness in our own lives," she said, according to Pride.As for the colors, those have a lot of meaning as well. "The light blue is the traditional color for baby boys, pink is for girls, and the white in the middle is for those who are transitioning, those who feel they have a neutral gender or no gender, and those who are intersexed," Monica explained.