Supreme Court Appears Likely to Uphold Tennessee's Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Minors

Dec 4, 2024, 12:24 PM

On December 4, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, a case challenging Tennessee's S.B.1, a law enacted in 2023 that bans gender-affirming care for transgender minors, including puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and surgeries. The Biden administration and transgender rights advocates, including Chase Strangio, the first openly transgender man to argue before the court, contend that the ban violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The outcome is significant as it could set a precedent affecting similar laws in more than 20 other states. During the arguments, the Supreme Court's conservative majority appeared skeptical of the challenge to Tennessee's law.