DOJ Backs Catholic Nuns Challenging New York Transgender Mandate Over $2,000 Fines
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 22
DOJ Backs Catholic Nuns Challenging New York Transgender Mandate Over $2,000 Fines
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 22
Summary
The Justice Department backed the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne in their lawsuit against New York, arguing the state’s transgender rules could force them to choose between their faith and operating a home for dying cancer patients.
Up to $2,000 per violation—rising to $5,000—the penalties can also include forced compliance, license loss, up to one year in prison and fines up to $10,000 if the sisters refuse requirements on pronouns, room assignments and sex-specific facilities.
The sisters, who filed suit on April 6, say the 2023 law would require them to house residents by gender identity, allow opposite-sex bathroom access, train staff in gender ideology and publicly post compliance notices.
Zero complaints were filed against their facility from Feb. 2022 through Jan. 2026, the lawsuit says, versus more than 55,000 complaints against other nursing homes and an average 23 citations per facility.
New York defended the policy and accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the justice system, while the case now tests how far states can apply gender-identity rules to religious health-care providers.