Supreme Court Upholds Tennessee Ban on Transgender Treatments for Minors

In a landmark 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban on transgender medical procedures for minors, ruling it does not violate the Equal Protection Clause. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, emphasized that the law does not warrant heightened scrutiny, as it does not classify based on protected categories like race or sex. This ruling sidesteps the fierce debate over the safety and ethics of such treatments, leaving those questions to state legislatures and the democratic process.

Tennessee’s Senate Bill 1 prohibits medical interventions enabling minors to identify with a gender inconsistent with their biological sex. The decision, stemming from United States v. Skrmetti, could ripple across legal battles over transgender rights, from sports participation to bathroom access. It’s a victory for states prioritizing caution in regulating unproven medical procedures for kids, but it’s not the final word on whether sexual orientation or gender identity qualifies as a protected class.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s fiery dissent called the ruling a retreat from judicial responsibility, arguing it abandons transgender youth to political whims. Citing the Williams Institute, she noted that transgender individuals—less than 1% of the U.S. population—face unique struggles, with some minors suffering severe gender dysphoria. Her dissent reads like a battle cry, warning that Tennessee’s blanket ban ignores the nuanced realities of medical care for transgender adolescents.

The ruling comes amid a broader cultural clash. President Trump’s recent executive order barring biological males from women’s sports underscores the polarized landscape. While Tennessee cheers this as a win for child safety, advocates like the ACLU, who backed the case alongside three families and a Memphis doctor, see it as a setback for individual rights. Expect more legal showdowns as states and advocacy groups dig in.