In a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Tennessee law banning transgender medical treatments for minors, ruling it does not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, said Tennessee’s SB 1 “does not classify on any bases that warrant heightened review.” The law prohibits hormone therapy and other gender-affirming treatments for individuals under 18. Roberts emphasized the case involves “fierce scientific and policy debates” best resolved through the democratic process.
The ruling sets precedent for 20 states with similar laws. Justices Clarence Thomas, Amy Coney Barrett, and Samuel Alito filed concurring opinions. Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Kagan also penned a separate dissent.
The decision marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battles over youth gender-affirming care, effectively allowing states to regulate or ban such medical procedures without meeting strict scrutiny standards typically applied in equal protection cases.
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