The US Supreme Court has ruled that Tennessee can limit or even fully ban gender transition care for young people. The justices voted 6 to 3 that a Tennessee law limiting access to treatments such as puberty blockers for under-18s was not discrimination. The ruling will likely have a nationwide effect - 25 states have similar laws. Three Tennessee transgender teenagers, their parents, and a doctor who provides transition medications had argued the 2023 Tennessee ban violated a US constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law by discriminating on the basis of sex. The case, known as United States v Skrmetti, was the first time the court had taken up transgender healthcare. The decision was written by Chief Justice John Roberts, who said that the law, known as SB1, does not discriminate against transgender people. He also wrote that: "Tennessee concluded that there is an ongoing debate among medical experts regarding the risks and benefits associated with administering puberty blockers and hormones to treat gender dysphoria, gender identity disorder, and gender incongruence. SB1's ban on such treatments responds directly to that uncertainty." Treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapies are used for a range of medical conditions. The Tennessee families who sued to overturn the law have said their children are being unfairly targeted because the law still allows minors with other medical needs to receive the medications. They also argued that the ban violated a parent's right to access necessary care for their children. Former President Joe Biden's administration had joined the case in support of the families. After President Donald Trump's inauguration, his administration notified the court that it did not stand by the previous government's arguments, but that it would still allow to case to continue so the court could weigh in on the issue. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via theBBC News App. You can also follow@BBCBreaking on Xto get the latest alerts.
US Supreme Court upholds Tennessee law restricting gender transition care for minors
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"Supreme Court Affirms Tennessee Law Limiting Gender Transition Care for Minors"
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TruthLens AI Summary
The US Supreme Court has delivered a significant ruling regarding gender transition care for minors, upholding a Tennessee law that restricts access to such treatments. In a 6 to 3 decision, the justices determined that the law, which limits access to puberty blockers and hormone therapies for individuals under 18, does not constitute discrimination. Chief Justice John Roberts, who authored the majority opinion, emphasized that the law, dubbed SB1, addresses ongoing debates among medical professionals about the risks and benefits associated with administering these treatments for gender dysphoria and related conditions. The ruling is poised to have widespread implications, as 25 other states have enacted similar laws, potentially reshaping the landscape of transgender healthcare across the country.
The case, known as United States v. Skrmetti, involved three transgender teenagers, their families, and a physician who prescribes transition medications. They contended that the Tennessee law infringed upon the constitutional guarantee of equal protection by discriminating based on sex. The plaintiffs argued that the law unfairly targeted transgender youth while allowing minors with other medical conditions to access the same medications. The Biden administration supported the families in their challenge against the law, while the Trump administration had previously expressed a different stance but permitted the case to proceed. As the legal landscape evolves, this ruling reflects the complexity of the debates surrounding transgender healthcare and the balance between parental rights and state regulations.
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