The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a ban by Tennessee lawmakers on transgender surgeries and chemical procedures for youth, vindicating conservatives who argued that the opinion of medical professionals should stand behind those of parents and families.
In a 6-3 decision, the high court signaled that all states may now pursue bans on transgender-related care for minors, a deeply unpopular policy, but one which galvanized far-left progressive activists in the 2024 election. Another 26 states have already put in place laws similar to the one challenged in Tennessee.
“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. The voices in these debates raise sincere concerns; the implications for all are profound,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. “The Equal Protection Clause does not resolve these disagreements. Nor does it afford us license to decide them as we see best.”
In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that the decision “abandons transgender children and their families to political whims.”
The ruling comes as states wrestle with the complexities of accommodating transgender residents while respecting the rights of parents and conservatives