Supreme Court Upholds Tennessee’s Ban On Trans Youth Gender Affirming Care

June 18, 2025 Melissa Sinaly

A transgender rights supporter takes part in a rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court holding cardboard sign that reads "Let Trans Kids Live"

In a devastating decision, SCOTUS has upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth.

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s law banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, marking a major setback for transgender rights. This ruling affects over 100,000 teens and sets a strong precedent for similar laws in other states.

The 6-3 decision, passed by the court’s conservative majority, was penned by Chief Justice John Roberts.

“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,” Roberts wrote. “The voices in these debates raise sincere concerns; the implications for all are profound. The Equal Protection Clause does not resolve these disagreements.”

Justice Sonya Sonia Sotomayor, who dissented from the vote along with the two other liberal justices, said the court “abandons transgender children and their families to political whims.”

“The majority refuses to call a spade a spade,” Sotomayor said inside the courtroom. “Instead, it obfuscates a sex classification that is plain on the face of this statute, all to avoid the mere possibility that a different court could strike down SB1, or categorical healthcare bans like it.”

The passing of this law allows Tennessee to continue enforcing a 2023 law (SB 1) prohibiting the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for anyone under the age of 18 (specifically, when the purpose is to facilitate gender transition). The law also imposes civil penalties on healthcare providers who violate it. This ruling will also have broader implications for other states. Moving forward, judges will examine similar bans under the lowest standard of judicial review, meaning these restrictive laws are more likely to be upheld by courts.

“This ruling is a chilling step toward unchecked government overreach, intruding on the most personal aspects of our private lives,” GLAAD’s President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. “All families are now less safe and left vulnerable to politicians and a Court that has abandoned its duty to protect personal liberties.”

A transgender rights supporter takes part in a rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court as the justices hear arguments in a case on transgender health rights.
December 04, 2024. Photo by Kevin Dietsch.

The Biden administration challenged Tennessee’s law, arguing it unfairly denied transgender youth access to medications that cisgender youth can still receive. For example, estrogen may be allowed for a hormone disorder but banned for gender transition. After Trump took office in January 2025, the Justice Department reversed its course and supported the law. His administration has since pushed policies limiting transgender rights, including legal document restrictions, a military ban, and promoting talk therapy as the only treatment for trans youth.

The Williams Institute reports that over 110,000 transgender teens live in states with restrictions on puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The Supreme Court’s decision supports these laws, encouraging more anti-trans legislation from conservative lawmakers.

“This ruling creates a class of people who politicians believe deserve healthcare, and a class of people who do not,” Lucas Cameron-Vaughn, Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Tennessee, said in a statement. “We will continue to stand with transgender people in Tennessee and are committed to realizing a world where all people belong, are valued, and can access the necessary healthcare they need.”