Supreme Court upholds Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a state law banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth.Why it matters: Roughly half the states have similar laws on the books — and more can now freely follow suit if they want to.Driving the news: In a 6-3 ruling, the court said Tennessee can continue to enforce a ban on hormone therapy and other treatments.The central question in the case was whether Tennessee is simply regulating the practice of medicine or discriminating on the basis of sex. If it were the latter, the state would have to clear a much higher legal bar to defend its law.But the state does not have to meet that higher standard, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority."This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments in an evolving field," he wrote. "Questions regarding the law's policy are … appropriately left to the people, their elected representatives, and the democratic process."What they're saying: National Center for LGBTQ Rights Legal Director Shannon Minter says health care decisions belong with families, rather than politicians."The Court's ruling abandons transgender youth and their families to political attacks," he said in a statement. "It ignored clear discrimination and disregarded its own legal precedent by letting lawmakers target young people for being transgender."Chase Strangio, co-director of the ACLU's LGBTQ & HIV Project, condemned the ruling as a "devastating loss for transgender people, our families, and everyone who cares about the Constitution."The other side: Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a statement that in the "historic Supreme Court win, the common sense of Tennessee voters prevailed over judicial activism."Context: The Tennessee ban targets hormone therapies such as hormone replacement therapy and puberty blockers. The law specifically bars procedures that "[e]nable a minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor's sex" or "[t]reat purported discomfort or distress from a discordance between the minor's sex and asserted identity."Major medical associations, including the American Medical Association, endorse gender-affirming care for minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria.KFF policy experts warned last year that allowing the ban to stand leaves in place a patchwork of state laws on care access.Flashback: In 2023, the ACLU and other legal advocates sued on behalf of a group of families and a medical provider to block the state's ban.The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a request to block the law.Go deeper: Gender-affirming care drugs seldom used by kids: study

Comments

World news

Hypersonic missiles are stirring fears in the Iran-Israel conflict. Here's why

washington times

Trump snipes at ‘fake news’ CNN for asking about MAGA backlash to Iran, says his ‘supporters are more in love’ with him now

about 3 hours ago

‘I may do it, I may not’: Donald Trump taunts Iran over airstrikes as Starmer holds Cobra meeting

Independent

Comments

Similar News

The Supreme Court&#8217;s incoherent new attack on trans rights, explained

U.S. Supreme Court OKs Tennessee gender-affirming care ban for minors

Supreme Court upholds red-state laws that ban hormones for transgender teens

Iran's Supreme Leader Has Dire Warning For Trump As Israeli Warplanes Hammer Tehran

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei 'hiding in a bunker' as Trump pinpoints exact location

Supreme Court opens door for ‘untold harm’ by upholding ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth, liberal justices warn

US supreme court upholds Tennessee ban on youth gender-affirming care

Iran's exiled Crown Prince calls on citizens to rise up and 'reclaim' the country from 'hiding rat' Supreme Leader Khamenei and vows to restore democracy as Israel pounds Tehran

Health care, citizenship and LGBTQ+ rights: Five Supreme Court cases to watch

In a defiant address, Iran’s supreme leader rejects Trump’s call to surrender.

Live Updates: Iran’s Supreme Leader Threatens ‘Irreparable Damage’ if U.S. Joins War

Trump Calls for Iran’s ‘Unconditional Surrender’ and Threatens Its Supreme Leader

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson made millions for writing memoir

Who Is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader?

Trump threatens Iran's supreme leader, escalating his rhetoric about the conflict

Trump calls for Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’ and threatens its supreme leader.

Trump demands ‘UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER’ from Iran as he issues chilling threat to Supreme Leader Khamenei

Trump’s chilling warning to Iran: we won’t kill Supreme Leader – for now

Peter MacKinnon: U.S. Supreme Court’s DEI decision has lessons for Canada

US supreme court to hear case involving anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center

World news

Hypersonic missiles are stirring fears in the Iran-Israel conflict. Here's why

High-value deals, defense industry drama dominate Paris Air Show

U.S. sanctions leadership of Mexico's Jalisco cartel

Technician awarded $75m in lawsuit after losing fingers in explosion while making HVAC repairs at a Kroger

Meet General ‘Gorilla’: Iran hawk has become Hegseth’s go-to adviser as US involvement in Middle East crisis intensifies

Man arrested after 15-year-old girl who was missing for a year is found in his apartment

Karen Read cleared of murdering her Boston cop boyfriend sparking wild cheering outside court

87-year-old’s five-word response to being arrested at Trump protest

Hegseth says renaming military bases after Civil War soldiers who fought for slavery is ‘important for morale’

An Oklahoma toddler fights for her life after contracting multiple strains of E. coli after swimming at Keystone Lake

Kristi Noem is released after being rushed to the hospital with an allergic reaction

Trump says he 'may or may not' attack Iran after Keir Starmer chairs emergency Cobra meeting

N.S. mother who strangled daughter to death and dumped body gets 60-day unescorted leave

Intelligence Window Might Have Been a Factor in Timing of Israeli Attack on Iran

Russia’s Newest Victims May Be Fish

Israel’s Long Road to Regional Dominance

South Korea’s New President Wants Flexible Diplomacy

Stamps place star receiver Reggie Begelton on six-game injury list

Dangerous thunderstorms, funnel clouds possible in Alberta: Environment Canada

Call for change: Alberta, Saskatchewan premiers meet to talk energy, agriculture

Alberta government PR branch moved under Premier Danielle Smith’s office

Terminally-ill B.C. girl with extremely rare disease will no longer have drug funded

Scoop: House Democrats probe FBI handcuffing of Sen. Alex Padilla

Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson's blowup exposes MAGA's divide on war with Iran

Handcuffed Democrats become symbol of Trump's crackdown on dissent

Bill to protect supply management in trade talks close to becoming law

Quebec bans transport of some wild animals in nearly 100 communities over rabies risk

Wiretap investigation uncovers deadly tow truck turf war in Ontario

What are the stakes in Strait of Hormuz if Iran-Israel conflict worsens?

Eleven killed by Israeli fire while seeking aid in Gaza, rescuers say

Before Iran’s internet was throttled, one resident described a ‘deserted’ Tehran.

U.S. lawmakers say Gulf Arab leaders want Iran’s nuclear program to end, but preferably not by force.

Hurricane Erick Nears Mexico’s Southern Coast as Category 2 Storm

Funeral standoff halts repatriation of former Zambian president's body

Donald Trump’s No-Strategy Strategy on Iran

Japanese, South Korean leaders left disappointed by Trump at G7 Summit

Trump: Iran wants to negotiate

Hegseth tells lawmakers that Iran should have made a deal

Trump says next few days will be 'very big' for potential U.S. involvement in Iran

Iran's ballistic barrage severely blunted by preemptive attacks, layered Israeli missile defense

Cyber pros warn of digital threats spreading from Iran

WATCH: Iran State Media video of dummy nuke stroked as chilling 1-word message sent

‘World’s biggest’ great white shark heading for popular beaches as urgent warning issued

Air India plane crash survivor reveals exactly how he escaped flight for first time

Harrowing moment girl falls nearly 50ft to the ground during holiday with parents

European seaside town loved by Brits says ‘too many tourists’ - on brink of bus ban

Over $1m worth of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles stolen from semi-truck in Colorado

Starmer considers whether to support US if Trump joins Israel’s war on Iran

Trump snipes at ‘fake news’ CNN for asking about MAGA backlash to Iran, says his ‘supporters are more in love’ with him now

‘I may do it, I may not’: Donald Trump taunts Iran over airstrikes as Starmer holds Cobra meeting

Panthers have reportedly 'cracked' the Stanley Cup on the Montreal section

'We have to get that balance right': Liberal MPs express worries about major projects bill

Alberta minister 'cautiously optimistic' about tanker ban reversal after northern B.C. visit

PM weighs up military action in Iran conflict as Britons in Israel remain stranded

The Supreme Court&#8217;s incoherent new attack on trans rights, explained

Air India axes eight flights as ENTIRE Dreamliner fleet inspected after horror crash

Iran defies warnings to 'surrender’ as US gears up for war again

The Supreme Court’s incoherent new attack on trans rights, explained

The Supreme Court’s incoherent new attack on trans rights, explained