ACLU sues Penn State Health over canceled gender-affirming care procedure

July 22, 2026 - 21:40

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against Penn State Health after a gender-affirming care procedure was canceled at one of its hospitals. The lawsuit claims the surgery was scheduled at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading, Pennsylvania, but was abruptly called off because it violated Catholic religious doctrine.

According to the complaint, the patient had been preparing for the procedure for months. The hospital canceled the surgery shortly before it was set to take place, citing the facility's adherence to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. Those directives, issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, prohibit certain medical procedures, including gender-affirming surgeries.

The ACLU argues that the cancellation violates state law and the patient's rights. Pennsylvania's nondiscrimination protections cover sexual orientation and gender identity, and the lawsuit contends that a public university health system cannot delegate its obligations to religious rules. Penn State Health is a public entity, but St. Joseph Medical Center operates under a partnership with the Catholic health system Penn State Health.

The plaintiffs are seeking a court order to prevent similar cancellations in the future. They also want the court to declare that Penn State Health cannot use religious directives to deny gender-affirming care. The case raises broader questions about how public hospitals can balance religious affiliations with patient rights.

Penn State Health has not yet issued a detailed response to the lawsuit. The hospital system previously stated that it follows the Catholic directives at St. Joseph as part of its agreement with the Diocese of Allentown. The lawsuit is now pending in federal court.