A group of Catholic nuns in New York has filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that a recently enacted gender-identity law violates their constitutional and religious rights.

The case centers on the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, who operate Rosary Hill Home—a hospice that has served impoverished cancer patients for more than a century.

The dispute stems from New York’s LGBTQ Long-Term Care Facility Residents’ Bill of Rights, a 2024 law that requires facilities to respect patients’ gender identity in areas such as pronoun usage, room assignments, and restroom access. The legislation was backed by Brad Hoylman-Sigal during his time as a state senator.

According to the lawsuit, the state’s health department has issued multiple warnings to Rosary Hill Home regarding compliance. The sisters argue that being forced to follow these requirements conflicts with their religious beliefs and mission, raising concerns under the First Amendment’s protections for religious freedom.

Rosary Hill Home itself has a long and notable history. It was founded in 1901 by Mother Mary Alphonsa, formerly Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, daughter of famed author Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The hospice has been dedicated to caring for terminally ill patients—particularly those without financial means—for over 100 years. The sisters maintain that their focus is on providing compassionate end-of-life care, and they contend that the state’s requirements impose guidelines that conflict with their faith-based principles.

The case highlights an ongoing legal and cultural debate over the balance between anti-discrimination protections and religious liberty. As the lawsuit moves forward, it could have broader implications for how similar laws are applied to faith-based institutions across the country.