Case: Bella Boe et al. v. Children's Hospital Colorado

2026CV30232 | Colorado state trial court

Filed Date: Jan. 20, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

Plaintiffs, transgender youth who had been receiving care from the TRUE Center at Children's Hospital Colorado (CHC), filed this suit in the District Court for the City & County of Denver, Colorado after the hospital made a significant policy change in January 2026, ceasing to provide medical gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, to minor patients. This lawsuit followed the Kennedy Declaration issued by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on December 18, 2025, a…

Plaintiffs, transgender youth who had been receiving care from the TRUE Center at Children's Hospital Colorado (CHC), filed this suit in the District Court for the City & County of Denver, Colorado after the hospital made a significant policy change in January 2026, ceasing to provide medical gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, to minor patients. This lawsuit followed the Kennedy Declaration issued by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on December 18, 2025, asserting that "sex rejecting procedures for children and adolescents are neither safe nor effective as a treatment modality for gender dysphoria." The plaintiffs brought two counts alleging violations of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) pursuant to section 24-34-601, C.R.S. They claimed discrimination in a place of public accommodation based on disability, sex, and gender identity. The individual plaintiffs argued they faced immediate harm from the cessation of their gender-affirming care, including irreversible physical changes and psychological distress. The case was assigned to District Judge Ericka F. H. Englert.

Based on the imminent harm plaintiffs were facing, they sought a preliminary injunction to compel the hospital to continue providing gender-affirming medical care. After a hearing, Judge Englert issued an opinion on February 13, 2026. The court found that plaintiffs demonstrated a reasonable probability of success on the merits and would face irreparable harm if the injunction were not granted. However, the court ultimately denied the motion for preliminary injunction. The decisive factors were the public interest and the balance of equities, both of which the court found disfavored granting the injunction. The court's primary concern was that forcing CHC to continue providing gender-affirming care could result in the hospital's exclusion from federal programs. The court concluded this would create "a greater risk to a greater number of individuals." Additionally, the court found the proposed injunction was impermissibly vague because it failed to define "medically necessary care."

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Maddy Ligon (2/26/2026)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

26-cv-30232

Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order on Class Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction

Feb. 13, 2026

Feb. 13, 2026

Order/Opinion

Docket

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory:

Colorado

Case Type(s):

Healthcare Access and Reproductive Issues

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 20, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Transgender youth who had been receiving care from the TRUE Center at Children's Hospital Colorado.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Non-profit or advocacy

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO

Defendant Type(s):

Hospital/Health Department

Facility Type(s):

Non-government non-profit

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Colorado state trial court 2026CV30232

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Discrimination Basis:

Gender identity

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Transgender

LGBTQ+:

Transgender

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