Supreme Court Hears United States v. Skrmetti, Challenge to Tennessee's Ban on Transgender Youth Medical Care

Dec 4, 2024, 02:00 PM

On December 4, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, a pivotal case challenging Tennessee's law banning certain gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender minors. The law, known as S.B.1 and enacted in 2023, prohibits medical professionals from providing puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and surgeries to individuals under 18 seeking to align with a transgender identity. The case has drawn significant attention and protests outside the Supreme Court, with implications for similar laws in other states, including Florida. Chase Strangio, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the first openly transgender man to argue before the Supreme Court, is representing transgender youth and their parents in challenging the ban. The federal government, represented by Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, has joined the challenge, arguing that Tennessee's law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. During oral arguments, Justice Sonia Sotomayor compared the risks of gender-affirming treatments to those of taking aspirin, while Justice Samuel Alito referenced evidence from the UK and Sweden expressing caution over such treatments. Supporters of the law, including Tennessee's Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and several Republican lawmakers, argue that the state has the right to protect minors from medical treatments they consider experimental and potentially harmful. They assert that minors should not undergo irreversible medical procedures before reaching adulthood. The outcome of the case could have far-reaching consequences for transgender rights and access to medical care in the United States. The Supreme Court's decision may set a precedent for other states considering similar legislation and impact the legal framework surrounding gender-affirming care for minors.