Supreme Court to Hear Transgender Rights Case Challenging Tennessee's Ban on Youth Gender-Affirming Care

Dec 3, 2024, 05:56 PM

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on Wednesday, December 4, in United States v. Skrmetti, a landmark case challenging Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender minors. The law, known as S.B.1, prohibits healthcare providers from administering puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and performing surgeries related to gender transition for individuals under 18. The case centers on whether the ban violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by discriminating against transgender youth and infringing on parental rights. Chase Strangio, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union and the first openly transgender lawyer to argue before the Supreme Court, will represent the transgender youths challenging the law. The Biden administration has joined the plaintiffs in opposing the ban, asserting that it infringes on constitutional rights and poses serious risks to affected minors. Legal experts note that the Court's decision could have far-reaching implications, potentially affecting similar laws enacted in 26 states and shaping the future of transgender healthcare in the United States. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) has also been cited in discussions around the standards of medical care for transgender individuals. The hearing comes amid heightened national debate over transgender rights, with the case poised to become one of the most significant transgender rights cases in the Supreme Court's history. The Court will consider whether state laws banning gender-affirming care for minors constitute discrimination against a protected class and whether they infringe on parental rights.